Introduction:

Date rape is defined as "rape committed by someone known to the victim." The exact number of women who have been sexually assaulted in America is unknown. Approximately 16% of rapes are reported; that's only one out of six. Although the other five do not report their rapes, all have to live with the mental and physical damage that may destroy their whole way of life.

Statistics:

• 1,872 women are raped every day
  
  
• 1 in 3 women are assaulted in their lifetime
  
  
• 1 in 5 men are assaulted in their lifetime
  
  
• 47% of rapes were on first or casual dates

Rape is most often described as a stranger approaching a "helpless women" and forcing sexual intercourse on her. However, most of the time this is not the case and up to 82% of all rapes are "acquaintance rape." Acquaintance rape/date rape is where the victim was raped by somebody they knew. Often drugs are involved in rape. The most common date rape drugs are Rohypnol, Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate (GHB), Ketamine Hydrochloride, and, of course, alcohol. Nobody would ever think that alcohol could ever lead to their being raped, but alcohol is probably the most widely "used" date rape drug in the country. Although, Rohypnol, GHB, and Ketamine are becoming more popular by the day, alcohol seems to be the simplest. Somebody has too much to drink, passes out and has no clue what happened the next day. While the other drugs can be traced for up to 72 hours, it is nearly impossible to take a drunken person's word.

The Drugs:

Rohypnol	Ketamine
Images courtesy of In the Know Zone

Rohypnol and Ketamine drugs are tasteless, odorless, and colorless. GHB tastes like salt water. However, it is also odorless and colorless. These drugs leave the body after 72 hours and cannot be traced. That fact makes them the most popular. All three drugs work almost instantly rendering the victim unconscious. Although the victim may be responsive, they have little or no memory of what happened while the drug was active.

Rohypnol:

Street Names:

Rohypnol is a brand name drug called flunitrazepam. Flunitrazepam is an anesthetic/depressant used by doctors legally in some countries. Roofies is ten times more forceful than a sleeping pill. Although Rohypnol is illegal in America and Canada, it is smuggled into both countries. Popularity soared in the 1990's for using Roofies as a date rape drug. Roofies are small white pills that are labeled Roche and each has a circled one on them. You cannot detect Roofies in any drink, including water. When the drug enters the blood stream, the victim feels as if they were hypnotized. Roofies can cause loss of muscle control, lowered blood pressure, dizziness, and confusion. Like all date rape drugs, Roofies leaves the victim unaware of what has happened, although in some cases the victim can sense if they've been sexually abused but cannot explain how.

Street Names:

GHB is a chemical which is very much like one found in every cell of the human body. Some pushers claim that this makes the drug "safe." This, however, is false. GHB is like Rohypnol in that they are both depressants. Both drugs slow down the brain and body functions. In 1990, the federal government outlawed GHB because of its overdose capabilities and addictiveness. Two highly unhealthy products found in GHB are engine degreaser and drain cleaner. Unlike Rohypnol, GHB tastes like salt water but, when mixed with a strong or sweet drink, it is undetectable. The most common form of GHB is liquid, although it can sometimes be found in powder or tablet form.

GHB starts to work after approximately ten minutes and can last up to four hours. GHB has a mild sedative effect and causes slowed heart and breathing rates, inability to think quickly or logically, physical weakness, and loss of consciousness. This allows the predator to take the upper hand and then escape unnoticed. If the predator overdoses the drink it can lead to seizures, coma, or death.

Ketamine Hydrochloride:

Street Names:

Ingesting Ketamine causes you to completely lose control of your body. Using Ketamine may cause unconsciousness, hallucinations, numbing, and amnesia. It may also cause agitation, violence, confusion, and difficulty hearing, understanding, or speaking. Ketamine is perhaps the most dangerous of all three drugs. Ketamine lowers the heart rate and can lead to lack of oxygen in the brain and muscles. Ketamine also causes high blood pressures and sometimes fatal breathing problems.

In the 1960's, doctors created Ketamine as an anesthetic, like Rohypnol. Ketamine is the closest related drug to PCP. Both are "dissociatives." Dissociatives cause a splitting from of reality, like a hallucinogenic. Ketamine is the only drug of the three that is legal. Ketamine is by prescription only and is mostly used in the veterinarian field. They are two forms of Ketamine: liquid and a white powder. Ketamine can be snorted, shot into the skin or through the mouth. Ketamine is extremely fast. You are knocked out within a minute.

Fighting for Our Rights:

Women and girls have been dehumanized in every country. Now, as we go into the new technological world striving for equality, we must learn to protect ourselves. We must find ways to be able to go out on a date and not be afraid of what is in our drinks and have fun without watching over our shoulders. We deserve to have fun while showing our intellect and being ourselves without apprehension. But our world is not perfect. We must protect ourselves at all costs. Below are some ways to guard ourselves against unwanted sex.

• Do not accept open drinks.
  
  
• In clubs or bars, always get your drink directly from the bartender. Do not take your eyes off the bartender or your drink.
  
  
• If you set down your drink, do not pick it back up again. Get a new one.
  
  
• At parties, only accept drinks in closed containers: bottles or cans.
  
  
• Do not drink from punch bowls, pitchers, or tubs.
  
  
• Keep your eyes and ears open. Watch out for your friends. If they seem too "intoxicated," leave the party immediately and don't go back.
  
  
• Rapists take every easy opportunity. They look for victims who appear accessible and unprotected. Take steps to keep yourself from being, or appearing to be, vulnerable.

All tips taken from:

• www.teenadvice.about.com/library/weekly/aa062502b.htm

• www.umes.edu/atod/abuse/drugs/daterapedrugs.htm