DATE RAPE Date rape has come to a new level with the introduction of more access to drugs and more acceptance of these drugs both voluntary and involuntary consumption of these. From Ecstasy through to marijuana, among other forms, they are becoming more widely used by youth and society is becoming more accepting of their use. Regardless of the situation, no person has the right to force you to have sex against you will. This includes times of indiscretion when you may have voluntarily taken drugs or consumed more alcohol than you can handle and "pass out". You have the right to stop a person from having sex with you no matter how far you have allowed actions to go. If you are not in a clear and conscious state to decide what you want or don't want, the implied answer should be no. Date rape is under reported as a result of girls (and in some cases guys) feeling as though they caused the rape to take place. They feel guilty and ashamed of not being able to control the events and thus do not report the rape. there is also a fear of getting someone in trouble that they have been friends with and fear loosing the friendship of others in their peer circle. If you or someone you know has been the victim of date rape, it is important to remember that you are the only one who has a right to decide what you do with your body. Regardless of the circumstances, if you have been forced to have sex against your will or without the ability to give consent, you are not at fault. The effects and feelings associated with being raped will not just go away with time no matter how hard you try to push them events from your mind. It is not your fault. No matter what the situation, you have the right to say "no" at anytime and for the other person to respect that. Date Rape drugs (or Drug Inducing Sexual Assault) often have no color, taste or smell. They are easily added to foods and beverages. They may reduce a persons ability to refuse sex, a persons physical ability to remove themselves from the situation or to stop the sex from happening and can hinder the persons ability to remember that the sexual action had taken place. These are used on both male and female victims. Some of these drugs include but are not limited to: GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid), - Can be a liquid with no color or scent, a white powder or a pill form Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), - New pills now turn blue when added to liquid but old pills are still available with no colour. They quickly dissolve when added to beverages Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride) - is a white powder substance The effects of the drugs and the duration can vary dependant upon circumstance (i.e.: taken with alcohol, are you on other medications etc.) and also dependant upon the volume consumed. As GHB can be made by people with little of no skills in drug manufacturing, they can contain various ingredients and can be very lethal. The following are some of the effects of these drugs but these are only a few of the drugs (although the most common), they are not the only drugs used to facilitate rape and sexual assaults. GHB GHB can cause these problems: relaxation drowsiness dizziness nausea problems seeing unconsciousness (black out) seizures can't remember what happened while drugged problems breathing tremors sweating vomiting slow heart rate dream-like feeling coma death Rohypnol Rohypnol can cause these problems: can't remember what happened while drugged lower blood pressure sleepiness muscle relaxation or loss of muscle control drunk feeling nausea problems talking difficulty with motor movements loss of consciousness confusion problems seeing dizziness confusion stomach problems Ketamine Ketamine can cause these problems: hallucinations lost sense of time and identity distorted perceptions of sight and sound feeling out of control impaired motor function problems breathing convulsions vomiting out of body experiences memory problems dream-like feeling numbness loss of coordination aggressive or violent behavior slurred speech Is alcohol a date rape drug? While GHB, rohypnol, and ketamine are considered "date rape drugs," there are other drugs that affect judgment and behavior, and can put a person at risk for unwanted or risky sexual activity. Alcohol is one of those drugs. When a person is drinking alcohol: It's harder to think clearly and evaluate a potentially dangerous situation. It's harder to resist sexual or physical assault. Drinking too much alcohol can also cause black-outs and memory loss. But remember: even if a victim of sexual assault drank alcohol, she is NOT at fault for being assaulted. How can I protect myself from being a victim? Don't accept drinks from other people. Open containers yourself. Keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom. Don't share drinks. Don't drink from punch bowls or other large, common, open containers. They may already have drugs in them. Don't drink anything that tastes or smells strange. Sometimes, GHB tastes salty. Have a non-drinking friend with you to make sure nothing happens. If you think that you have been drugged and raped: Go to the police station or hospital right away. Get a urine (pee) test as soon as possible. The drugs leave your system quickly. Rohypnol stays in the body for several hours, and can be detected in the urine up to 72 hours after taking it. GHB leaves the body in 12 hours. Don't urinate before getting help. Don't douche, bathe, or change clothes before getting help. These things may give evidence of the rape. You also can call a crisis center or a hotline to talk with a counselor. End Youth Violence provides information to you as a guideline. Information here or from other sources should never be a replacement for common sense. If you feel that you or someone you know has been the victim of a date rape, get help now. Call your local crisis center, police department or other related service. If you can not find a contact in your area, please contact us and we will assist you in locating the appropriate contact in your area. It is not your fault and you deserve to get help. help@youthandviolence.com