Touch, Personal Space, and Date Rape

Hope4Families October 25, 2022

What are Date Rape Drugs?

These are drugs that are sometimes used to assist a sexual assault. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to. It can include inappropriate touching, vaginal penetration, sexual intercourse, rape, and attempted rape. Because of the effects of these drugs, victims may be physically helpless, unable to refuse sex, and can’t remember what happened. The drugs often have no color, smell, or taste and are easily added to flavored drinks without the victim’s knowledge. There are at least three date rape drugs:

GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid)
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)
Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride)

Although we use the term “date rape,” most experts prefer the term “drug-facilitated sexual-assault.” These drugs have been used to help people commit other crimes, like robbery and physical assault, and have been used on both men and women.

What Do the Drugs Look Like?

GHB has a few forms that come in a liquid with no odor or color, white powder, and a pill.
Rohypnol Is a pill and dissolves in liquids. New pills turn blue when added to liquids. However, the old pills, with no color, are still available.
Ketamine is a white powder.

What Effects Do These Drugs Have on the Body?

The drugs can affect you quickly. The length of time that the effects last varies. It depends on how much of the drug is taken and if the drug is mixed with other substances, like alcohol. Alcohol can worsen the drug’s effects and can cause more health problems. Also, people in their homes can make GHB, so you don’t know what’s in it.

GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid)

The symptoms of GHB include: relaxation, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, problems seeing, unconsciousness (blackout), seizures, can’t remember what happened when drugged, problems breathing, tremors, sweating, vomiting, slow heart rate, dreamlike feeling, coma, death.

Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)

The symptoms of Rohypnol include: can’t remember what happened when 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 hydrochloride)

The symptoms of ketamine include: hallucinations, lost sense of time and identity, disordered perceptions of sight and sound, feeling out of control, impaired motor function, problems breathing, convulsions, vomiting, out-of-body experiences, memory problems, dreamlike feelings, numbness, loss of coordination, aggressive or violent behavior, and slurred speech.

Is Alcohol a Date Rape Drug?

While GHB, Rohypnol, and Ketamine are considered “date rape drugs,” there are other drugs that affect judgement 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 cause blackouts and memory loss.

How Can I Protect Myself From Being a Victim?

Don’t accept drinks from other people, except trusted friends.
Open containers yourself.
Keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom or have a friend watch your drink.
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 happened.

If You Think that You Have Been Drugged or Raped…

Go to the police station or hospital right away.
Get a urine test as soon as possible. The drugs leave your system quickly. Rohypnol leaves your body 72 hours after you take 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 can also call a crisis center or a hotline to talk with a counselor. One national hotline is the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE or Text “START” to 88788. Feelings of shame, guilt or fear and shock are normal. It is important to get counseling from a trusted professional.