Things You Should Know About Date Rape Drugs

The world has been infected with multiple types of substance abuse affecting children, teens, and adults. In fact, every year, hundreds of people especially college students are thought to be victims of rape, which are commonly associated with drugs and alcohol. 

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Many of these incidents go unreported due to memory loss or embarrassment. This is why, it’s important to fully understand how date rape drugs can be totally dangerousparticularly on young woman.

What are Date Rape Drugs?

Date rape drugs or ‘predatory drugs’ are drugs used to facilitate sexual assault. Some of the most well-known types of date rape drugs today are GHB, Rohypnol, and Ketamine. However, alcohol is the most widely used date rape substance on college campuses, which most students often forget. In fact, a recent report shows an alarming rate of approximately 97,000 students between the ages of 18 to 24 as victims of sexual assault and date rape linked to alcohol.

Why it is Dangerous?

Drugs such as Rohypnol, GHB, and ketamine are perfect fit as date rape drugs because they don’t have distinct color, smell, and flavors. These drugs often come in forms of powder, liquid, and pill which make it much easier to dissolve. This makes it hard for you to distinguish if someone had slipped it into your drink. So beware!

Date rape drugs are powerful and certainly dangerous, especially when combined with alcohol. Try to look what these drugs can do to you.

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            Rohypnol – Rohypnolor commonly called ‘roofies’ is a powerful sedatives that comes in a form of pill. Rohypnol produces effects like dizziness, sleepiness, visual disturbance, loss of muscle control, confusion, loss of consciousness, and the inability to remember the time when drugged.

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      GHB– It is a central nervous system depressant that is often referred to as ‘Grievous Bodily Harm’ and ‘Liquid Ecstasy’. GHB produces effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, dream-like feeling, tremors, seizures, blackout, and the inability to remember what happened while drugged.

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      Ketamine – It is also known as Super K, vitamin K, Special K, and Cat Valium or simply K. High dose use of ketamine can cause hallucination, loss of time and identity, numbness, impaired motor function, convulsion, agitation, and breathing problems.Ketamine, on the other hand, is a drug intended for veterinary use.

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       Alcohol – While it has not been part of what they call ‘date rape drugs’, this  substance is most commonly associated with sexual assault, particularly on colleges and universities. The effects of alcohol includeheadache, blurred vision, aggression, slower reflexes, lack of coordination, and blackouts. 

     

      The effects of date rape drugs inhibit a person’s ability to abstain from sexual assault, which increases danger and trauma. Victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault cannot protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases or unintended pregnancy.

There are times where victims are having a hard time to identify if they are drugged or raped. Because the drug leaves the body very quickly, victims may not have enough proof that drugs were involved in the act. Click here to find out what to do if you’ve been drugged.

How to Stay Safe

People with bad intention can use every single opportunity. Thus, educating oneself is important to prevent from any drug-facilitated sexual assault. To keep yourself guarded from any suspicious situations, whether you’re in a bar, club, party, or on a date, you may practice these simple tips:

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       **Do not put your drink down or totally avoid drinking with unfamiliar people.

·          ***Do not accept drink from any stranger, especially if it’s opened.

·         ***Avoid drinking on punch bowls or other opened containers because they may already be drugged.

·         ***Do not share or trade your drinks with anyone.

·         ***Don’t drink anything that has strange smell or taste.

·         ***Pour out the drink you’ve left unattended.

·        *** Go to parties in group or have at least a non-drinking buddy to ensure nothing dangerous happens.

·         ***Always know your limit. Remind yourself to drink below your limit where you can still control    your behavior and trust your decisions.

·         ***If you suspected strange like feeling a stronger effect of alcohol even if you haven’t drunk too much, get help immediately.

Authors Bio:

Kelly Greene is a drug and alcohol addiction blogger at RecoveryExperts. She has spent several years, providing readers insights about the most up-to-date development in the field of substance addiction and recovery. She wishes to develop an extensive understanding of the broad coverage of substance abuse so that everyone can work together to solve the problem of addiction. You may connect with Kelly via Email or LinkedIn.