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DATE RAPE DRUGS FACT SHEET Rohypnol and GHB The drugs Rohypnol and GHB are being used to render victims helpless in order to sexually assault them. Both drugs act as a sedative and may make an individual experience amnesia. The drug is usually administered to the victim in an alcoholic drink at a bar, party or social function. What Is Rohypnol (Flunirtazepam)? This drug is a form of a sleeping pill belonging to the same class of drugs which include Valium, Librium and Xanax. Common Street Names - Ruffies, Roche, R-Z, Rib, Rope, Stupefi, Shays, Roachies. Use and Effects - Rohypnol is ingested orally, frequently in conjunction with alcohol or other drugs. The effects begin within 30 minutes, peak within two hours and may persist for up to eight hours or more depending on the dosage. Adverse effects of this drug are a decrease in blood pressure, memory impairment, drowsiness, visual disturbances, dizziness and confusion, and with some people it can cause excitability and aggressive behavior. It is commonly reported that persons who become intoxicated on a combination of alcohol and rohypnol have 'blackouts' lasting 6 to 12 hours or longer following ingestion. Disinhibition is another widely reported effect. By itself, rohypnol is very unlikely to cause death but with alcohol the possibility exists that the combination could be fatal. What Is GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate)? GHB was originally developed as an anesthetic, but withdrawn due to unwanted side effects. It has been used for treatment of norcolepsy, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and more recently as a growth hormone stimulant and fat burning drug used by body builders. In 1990 the FDA banned the sale of GHB in the United States. GHB can be produced in the form of a white powder, but is more commonly encountered as an odorless, clear liquid. GHB has a salty taste which is masked when mixed with a drink. GHB will remain in a person's blood for approximately 4 hours and will remain detectable in the urine until It has been excreted. Common Street Names - GHB, Liquid E, Liquid X, Grievous Bodily Harm. Use and Effects - GHB is primarily used by body builders with the false assumption that it will burn fat and increase hormone growth. It is promoted as a drug that will increase one's sexual awareness and lead to more sexual activity. Low doses result in a general feeling of euphoria, (similar to being moderately under the effect of alcohol) which include: decreased inhibitions, increased sociability, followed by drowsiness then sleep. Higher doses result in an immediate onset of intoxication leading to a deep unresponsive sleep, shallow breathing, decreased blood pressure and invariably anterograde amnesia. In conjunction with alcohol or any depressant drug it may be fatal. This drug can easily be disguised in a beverage. Within a few minutes of drinking the liquid, the victim will appear intoxicated and become helpless. The individual coming to her aid will appear as a good Samaritan to those watching, but may be the one who spiked the drink and is planning to rape the victim. When the victim regains consciousness she will have no memory of the attack. Because GHB is quickly absorbed into the human body, evidence will be lost if the victim's blood or urine is not preserved soon after the attack. Ketamine Ketamine or ketamine hydrochloride, is a non-barbiturate, rapid-acting disassociative anesthetic used on animals. It has also been used in human medicine for pediatric burn cases and dentistry, and in experimental psychotherapy. Some street names for ketamine are: K, Ket, Special K, Vitamin K, Vit K, Kit Kat, Keller, Kelly's day, Green, Blind squid, Cat Valium, Purple, Special la coke, Super acid, and Super C. Effects can range from rapture to paranoia to boredom. Ketamine commonly elicits an out-of-body or near death experience; it can render the user comatose. Ketamine is similar molecularly to PCP or Angel Dust Ketamine can be injected, orally, and nasal. The effects of ketamine last an hour but they can last for 4-6 hours, and 24-48 hours are generally required before the victim feels completely normal again. Low doses 25-100 mg. produce psychedelic effects quickly. Large doses can produce vomiting and convulsions and may lead to oxygen starvation to the brain and muscles; one gram can cause death. Flashbacks may even occur one year after use. A bill was introduced in Congress in the spring of 1997 to schedule ketamine as a Schedule II drug, having a high abuse potential with severe psychic or physical dependence liability. Cocaine and methamphetamines are other examples of Schedule II drugs. Suggestions To Protect Yourself
What If It Happens To Me? Don't feel guilty and don't just try to forget about it. You didn't ask to be raped. Any rape is a violent attack that can have traumatic effects on the victim for months and even years afterward. Get Help! If you have unaccounted for time, a lapse of memory, or wake up in a strange place, and you feel you have been sexually assaulted, contact a local law enforcement agency and your local rape crisis center (PASSAGES, Inc.) immediately. Remember, rapists are repeat offenders by reporting this crime, you may save someone else from being attacked. Collect your first urine sample in a clean container. Remember, this may be the only evidence linking the drug to the crime! Do not bathe, shower, douche, wash clothing, bedding, or disturb anything in the area where the assault occurred. You may destroy valuable evidence. Who Can Help? PASSAGES, Inc. (formerly known as the Rape Crisis Center) (This information is used with the permission of The Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania) |
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