Information on Date Rape Drugs
What are date rape drugs?
There are drugs that are sometimes used to assist in a sexual assault. Because of the effects of these drugs, victims may be physically helpless, unable to refuse sex, and can't remember what happened. Drugs used to facilitate rape are often odorless, colorless, tasteless and can be put into any drink-alcoholic or non-alcoholic, even water. Some common date rape drugs are GHB, Ketamine, and Rohypnol. Alcohol is the most common.
Side effects include: dizziness, extreme exhaustion, nausea, severe headache, disproportionate inebriation (feeling like you drank 10 alcoholic drinks instead of 2), disorientation, difficulty with or loss of body movements, loss of consciousness.
Drugs can begin to take effect within minutes and the effects can last 8 or more hours. It is possible to detect the drug up to 24 hours after ingestion through a toxicology test.
For additional information on specific drugs go to:
Ways to Lower Your Risk
- Always be aware of your environment
- If you are with a partner, communicate your sexual limits in advance
- Respect your partner, it is okay to ask what they plan on doing with you, how far they want to go
- Know what rape is
- If you are drinking, try to stay with a group of friends and make sure that someone remains sober and is willing to be the "designated walker" who makes sure that every member of the group is safe and gets home safely.
