Date Rape Drugs

Drugs used to facilitate rape are often odorless, colorless, tasteless and can be put into any drink-alcoholic or non-alcoholic, even water. The most common are GHB, alcohol, Ketamine, Rohypnol and Ecstasy. Side effects include: dizziness, extreme exhaustion, nausea, severe headache, disproportionate inebriation (feeling like you drank 15 alcoholic drinks instead of 2 or 3), 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.

Ways to lower your risk: 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.

Dating Safety Tips

• If you are drinking, try to stay with a group of friends and make sure that someone remains sober and is looking out for everyone.
• Leave with everyone you arrived with.
• Do not leave drinks unattended. If you put your drink down and walk away, do not come back to it, get a new drink.
• Never accept a drink from someone you don't know.
• Do not drink out of a common source (punch bowl, pitcher, etc). Remember that even if the victim ingested a drug knowingly, he/she is not at fault for the attack, and did not ask to be raped.