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Community Corner

How can I tell if someone put a date rape drug in my drink?

It's often hard to tell if a drink is drugged. Read these tips, use a buddy system and watch each other closely. If either of you is feeling or acting drunk without drinking much alcohol, find a safe ride home immediately.

The most common drugs used to commit sexual assaults on people are Rohypnol, GHB (gammahydroxybutyric acid), and Ketamine. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity to which a person does not agree. These drugs are also used for other crimes such as robberies or physical assaults. 

These drugs can cause relaxation, drowsiness, confusion, problems seeing or talking, loss of consciousness and death.

Rohypnol comes as a pill that dissolves in liquids. It has no taste. These pills include a dye that makes clear liquids turn blue, and dark liquids turn cloudy.  However, these changes may be hard to spot in low lighting or in a dark drink like cola or dark beers. In addition, pills with no dye are available. Rohypnol is also known as Circles, Roofies, LA Rochas and Whiteys. It is effective in about 30 minutes and lasts for several hours.

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GHB is available as a colorless, odorless liquid, a white powder, and a pill. It is slightly salty, however sweet drinks can mask the salty taste. GHB is also known as Bedtime Scoop, Liquid Ectasy, Cherry Meth and Energy Drink. It takes only 15 minutes to be effective. This is often prepared in home "labs" so you never know how much of the active drug is delivered to you. One can overdose on GHB easily as it is very potent.

Ketamine comes as a liquid and a white powder. It is also known as Black Hole, Special K, Green, Jet, and Kit Kat. It is very fast acting and you might be aware of what is happening to you but you may be unable to move.

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To help prevent your drink from being drugged:

  • Do not take a drink previously prepared in a punch bowl or other open container.
  • Don't take an opened drink.
  • If you left your drink unattended, get a new one. 
  • Keep your drink with you at all times, even when going to the bathroom. 
  • Stay close to your buddy so that you can watch each other.

You may have been a victim of a date rape drug if:

  • You wake up the next morning feeling disoriented or don't remember a period of time of the previous night's events
  • You feel like you had sex but don't remember it
  • You find that your clothes are torn or not on quite right

If you feel you were assaulted:

  • Go to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible. These drugs can be found in the bloodstream four to six hours after ingesting them, so if you leave a party because you are feeling strange, go to the ER right away for a blood test.
  • Don't shower or go to the bathroom if possible prior to arriving to the ER as this may wash away evidence.
  • Call the police from the emergency room.

It is very common to feel shame or guilt after being assaulted.  Remember that is never okay for someone to touch another without permission, no matter what the circumstances. Please talk to a trusted adult and get some help.

For more information:

For more information on date rape drugs, please call womenshealth.gov at 1-800-994-9662 or contact the following organizations:

Drug Enforcement Administration, DOJ
Phone: (202) 307-1000
Internet Address: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea

Food and Drug Administration, OPHS, HHS
Phone: (800) 332-4010 Hotline or (888) 463-6332 (Consumer Information)
Internet Address: http://www.fda.gov

National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, HHS
Phone: (800) 662-4357 Hotline or (800) 662-9832 Spanish Language Hotline
Internet Address: http://www.drugabuse.gov

Office of National Drug Control Policy
Phone: (800) 666-3332 (Information Clearinghouse)
Internet Address: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/index.html

Men Can Stop Rape
Phone: (202) 265-6530
Internet Address: http://www.mencanstoprape.org

National Center for Victims of Crime
Phone: (800) 394-2255
Internet Address: http://www.ncvc.org

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
Phone: (800) 656-4673 (656-HOPE)
Internet Address: http://www.rainn.org

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