Date Rape Drugs Still Account for Many Sex Crimes

Rape is a violent crime, but the experience afterward is often silent for victims. Unfortunately, a lack of awareness is being perpetuated by the use of so-called “Date Rape Drugs”. Although many rapes occurring on college campuses are committed by a person the victim knows, there is plenty of evidence it is not only familiar people using these drugs to commit sex crimes. Any time or place a drink can be tampered with is a potentially dangerous situation. Add the chaos of a bar, club, or party and the effects of alcohol to this equation and the risk of sexual assault could be high. A sexual predator needs only to reach over a drink in order to drop tablet into it undetected. A drink does not need to be left totally unattended in order to be tampered with. Looking away to light a cigarette, pay the bartender, or answer your cell phone supplies ample time. A rapist may choose a victim completely at random in a crowed situation, tampering with their beverage then watching and waiting for the drug to take effect.Drugs like Rohypnol (ruffies), GHB and Ketamine (special K), cause the consumer to feel extremely drowsy and more intoxicated than alcohol alone would account for. Rohypnol is a tranquilizer that is odorless, colorless, and dissolves quickly into any liquid. It takes effect in ten to twenty minutes, and when combined with alcohol, rohypnol produces an amnesia-like sedative effect. These effects can last anywhere from eight to twenty four hours. GHB is similar to rohypol but with effects that can last for up to thirty hours when combined with alcohol. Within ten minutes of ingestion this drug can induce sleep or at least a state of relaxation and sensuality. Ketamine is newer to the collection of predator drugs. By origin it is an animal anesthetic. Ketamine can cause hallucinations, amnesia and mental dissociation from the body.To prevent the threat of rape, partygoers should take preventative measures against sexual assault. In the case of date rape drugs education is essential. Delilah Smith of gender services puts it best when she says, “it’s important to know what to look for because your friends are the ones who are going to be there to look out for you.” Know your friends, don’t accept or let friends accept drinks from strangers. It’s hard to be acutely aware of your surroundings when you are drinking. If you notice that a friends’ drink has been left in the open, say something. If you notice a friend acting more intoxicated than usual, or if you yourself feel you may have been a victim to any of these drugs and/or a sexual assault go to the hospital and request a drug screening. Rohyonol, for example, remains in the blood for twenty-four hours and the urine for forty-eight. Alarmingly, many rapes go unreported, but there is a victim’s bill of rights to aid and help protect. Education and awareness is the best preventative measure against rape.If you have concerns or question or need help contact:PSU Women’s and Gender Services 535-2387Voices against Violence 24-Hour Crisis Hotline 536 -1659Speare Memorial Hospital 536-1120PSU Health Services 535 2350Campus Police 535-2330