Date Rape Drugs

Okay this is something I have touched on before in another of my articles called If teens must drink do it sensibly but I thought I should dedicate a whole article to these drugs to bring out the importance of knowing about this and teaching our children about it...

Recently there has been a raise in rapes at parties and clubs...this raise has be directly linked to Predator drugs or date rape drugs...A date rape drug is really any drug that makes you incapable of saying NO...If a drug makes you incapable of making a decsion to make to keep youself safe then it can be used as a date rape drug...

Did you know that according to the Australian Institute of Criminology, 4,500 people a year are affected by spiked drinks and 40% of them are sexually abused.

There are a few drugs that can cause this effect in a person but the most common ones are Rohypnol, Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate (GHB) and Ketamine Hydrochloride...

These drugs are desirable to sexual predators...they are virtually undetectable, they have no smell, taste or colour...There will be no trace of this drug in a persons body within 72 hours of taking it and if a normal bloodtest or tox screen is done they do not show up...There is a test specifically for them in your system and if that's not preformed then they will not be detected...

The effect of these drugs are, but not limited to... unconcious but still  responsive and will leave the person with little or no memory when under the influence of this drug...They also have the effect on the person to lose their inhabitions and make them affectionate and even sexual...

Like all drugs, date rape drugs put people in the frame of  mind of not being able to make a decison that is a clear and safe one...This makes the victim of this drug a passive one...A rape can be committed without a fight...If someone is raped by a predator using this drug unfortunately it makes it very hard to prosecute it because victims have a sketchy memory of events if any and therefore make poor witnesses...But if you do think you may have been raped using this drug go to the police and then go to the hospital and request a drug test specifacally for date rape drugs...At this time they will probably run a rape kit also...

There are signs that this drug may have been given to you because it is so easily slipped into a drink or food then it is impossible to tell if you are having one until you feel the effects of it..The effects are Relaxation, drowsiness,  nausea, impaired vision, loss of consciousness, amnesia, lower blood pressure, slurring of words, motor functions impaired, confusion, dizziness, lack of co ordination, passing out, feel much like you are drunk even though you know you have not ingested that much alcohol...

We need to talk to our kids about the dangers of these...It doesn't just happen to girls either just read my article here...Learn what to tell your kids about the precautions they should take and about a buddy system when out at a party or club...There are enough dangers out there of rape without being raped and having no recollection to charge the offender...Teach them the dangers and how to protect themselves...Read the article here to teach your kids the golden rules when drinking when they are out because it does not have to be an alcoholic drink they are drinking either for it to be spiked because you can't taste these drugs when disolved in your drink even a glass of water can be spiked...Food for thought there isn't it?

Take Care
Cheers
Angie