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Volume CXXXIII, Number 13 |
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Facts are key when avoiding date rape
JEFF BENSON, M.D.
DUDLEY COE HEALTH CENTER
Dear Dr. Jeff: What can you do to protect yourself against date rape drugs?-M.H.
Dear M.H.: First, you need to stay informed. Three drugs are most commonly used by sexual predators.
Flunitrazepam, aka "Rohypnol," "Roche," "Roofies," etc., is a valium-like substance legally manufactured by Hoffmann-Roche. In Europe, Rohypnol is used as a surgical anesthetic. In this country, it has no approved, legal use, and shows up primarily as a date rape drug. Rohypnol comes as a white, dime-sized pill that dissolves quickly in alcoholic beverages and soft drinks. It is tasteless and odorless (but if legally manufactured, will turn pale liquids blue.) Within five to 20 minutes of ingestion,
Rohypnol causes weakness, somnolence, muscle paralysis, confusion and amnesia. These effects last four to six hours. Traces of the drug remain detectable in urine for up to 72 hours.
Ketamine, aka "Special K," "Kit Kat," "Super C," etc., is also a surgical anesthetic, used legally in this country for humans and animals. At lower doses, it causes a PCP ("Angel Dust")-like dissociative state, with numbness, incoordination, and a sense of exaggerated strength and rapturous invulnerability. At higher doses, the rapture becomes paranoia, and the numb incoordination progresses to muscle rigidity and frank paralysis. Disorientation, hallucinations, inability to communicate, loss of consciousness, and amnesia soon follow. Pharmaceutical ketamine comes as a clear liquid. Street ketamine is more often a crystallized white powder or tablet. The effects of ketamine begin very quickly, and can last up to 12 hours. Traces can be found in urine for up to 24 hours. Ketamine typically leaves you with a horrific and long-drawn hangover.
Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has earned the nickname "Easy Lay." Like flunitrazepam and ketamine, it was developed as an anesthetic agent. GHB has been banned in this country for some time, but it is relatively easy to fabricate (instructions are available online!) GHB comes as a clear liquid (odorless but somewhat salty), or a white powder or tablet. At lower "recreational" doses, it causes euphoria, exaggerated self-confidence and disinhibition. At higher doses, GHB causes drowsiness, physical collapse and amnesia. GHB can be particularly powerful and dangerous when taken with alcohol, and overdose can come quickly, unpredictably, and sometimes fatally. GHB's effects begin ten to 20 minutes after ingestion, and typically last up to four hours. Traces remain detectable in urine only for 12 hours.
What can you do to protect yourself? Don't go alone to parties. Don't accept any drink you haven't seen poured (that very definitely includes "punch" and beer), and don't leave your drink uncovered or unattended. Don't share or exchange drinks. If you're feeling very intoxicated after only one or two drinks, get help, and make sure someone you trust is with you and watching out for you.
Remember, too, that alcohol remains by far the sexual predator's drug of choice. Nearly 90 percent of reported sexual assaults on college campuses involve the use or abuse of alcohol.
In fact, drinking heavily puts you at risk for a variety of unhealthy and unsafe outcomes. Getting drunk all too often leads to increased risk-taking and carelessness. Some of those "inhibitions" that get pushed aside are truly self-protective and were probably well thought out.
We all need to do our part to protect ourselves and our friends.
We need to address the cultural and social underpinnings of sexual predation. We need to break open the silence of sexual assault. We need to get control over all that tries to depersonalize human intimacy, all that encourages some to seek out sex with an anesthetized body, rather than a consenting partner.
To all of our healths and safety!
Jeff Benson, M.D.
Dudley Coe Health Center
For information on sending a letter to the editor, please click here.
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