Date Rape Drugs

What exactly are date rape drugs?
Any substance that takes away your ability to say no or to assert yourself can be used to commit rape. This can include things like alcohol (the most common date rape drug), marijuana, club drugs like ecstasy, sleeping pills, or other over-the-counter or street drugs. But usually "date rape drug" refers to the drugs Rohypnol, Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate (GHB) and Ketamine Hydrochloride.

What are some characteristics of date rape drugs?

They are tasteless, odorless and colorless: virtually impossible to detect.
All traces of the drugs leave the body within 72 hours and are not found in the usual drug screens or blood tests - doctors and police have to test specifically for them.
Date rape drugs are easily slipped into drinks and food and are very fast acting. They render the victim unconscious but responsive with little or no memory of what happens while the drug is active in their system.
The drugs usually make the victim act without inhibition, often in a sexual or physically affectionate way. This can look to others like the victim is the one “asking” for sex.
Without any memory of what happened, victims are often confused about whether or not they have been raped. Even if they do remember, they usually can’t remember many details, so they make very poor witnesses.

What if you don’t remember – can you tell if you’ve been raped?
There are some signs that sexual activity has taken place even if you have no memory of actually "doing it." (Remember, if you have had sex but can not remember doing it or offering consent, you have been raped under the law, whether a date rape drug has been used or not.)

Physical signs that a sexual assault has taken place can include:

soreness or bruising on the genital area or the inner and/or outer thighs
bruising on the wrists and forearms
defensive bruising or scratching (the kind that would occur during a struggle)
used condoms in nearby garbage containers
traces of semen or vaginal fluids on clothes, body, or location of assault

Other signs that you have been slipped a drug can include:

feeling "hung-over" despite having ingested little or no alcohol
a sense of having had hallucinations or very "real" dreams
fleeting memories of feeling or acting intoxicated despite having taken no drugs or drinking no alcohol
no clear memory of events during an 8 to 24 hour period with no known reason for the memory lapse
gossip or stories from others about how intoxicated you seemed at a time when you know you had taken no drugs, medications or alcohol.

Is there a special law against using Date Rape Drugs?

YES – The Drug Induced Rape Prevention & Punishment Act of 1996.
This law states that anyone caught distributing illicit drugs to others without their knowledge in order to commit a sexual assault will get up to 20 years of imprisonment.

Protecting Yourself From Date Rape Drugs
What you can do: Reducing your risk of becoming a victim of date rape drugs.

Maintain control of your drink from the moment that it is opened, regardless of what it is that you are consuming. Most date rape drugs are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. A glass of water can be contaminated just as easily as a beer or soda. It is a good idea to drink beverages in a bottle with a screw-top lid and carry glasses or cups with one hand covering the opening.
Be aware of your surroundings and avoid being isolated from friends who know you well enough to differentiate between “sober” and intoxicated behaviors.
When in bars or clubs always get your drink directly from the bartender and do not take your eyes off the bartender or your order; don't use the waitress or let somebody go to the bar for you.
At parties, only accept drinks in close containers: bottles, cans or tetra packs.
Never leave your drink unattended or turn your back on your table. If you do, throw it away and get a new one.
Do not drink from open beverage sources like punch bowls, pitchers or tubs.

More information on:
Rohypnol
Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate (GHB)
Ketamine Hydrochloride