Thank you for visiting our page on preventing sexual assault. In coming weeks information on preventing acquaintance rape will be added, but for now please read our tips on avoiding date rape drugs and stranger rape.
Protecting yourself against date rape drugs
Even when combined with non-alcoholic drinks, date rape drugs can leave you vulnerable. Anyone, male or female, can be a victim of this kind of attack. In most cases, you will not be able to see, smell or taste a sedative. To help reduce your risk:
Always keep your beverage in sight
At a bar or club, accept drinks only from the bartender or server
At social gatherings, don't accept open-container drinks from anyone
If you experience dizziness, extreme drowsiness or other sudden and unexplained symptoms, call someone you trust. Go to a hospital emergency room immediately. Try to retain a sample of the beverage for testing.
If you think you have been sexually assaulted, please call our 24-Hour Crisis Line ( 816-531-0233 in Missouri and 913-642-0233 in Kansas) or call the police immediately.
Provided by Hoffmann-LaRoche in collaboration with the DC Rape Crisis Center
Drugs Used to Facilitate Rape
Both of these drugs can be fatal, especially when combined with alcohol and other drugs
Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam)
Illegal to possess, produce or sell in the U.S.
Legally prescribed in 80 other countries (to treat severe sleep disorders and as an alternative to anesthesia in surgery); smuggled into the U.S.
Symptoms include:
Extreme muscle relaxation and muscle weakness
Sleepiness
Dizziness
Disorientation
Trouble moving arms and legs
Amnesia
Unconsciousness
Effects begin in 20 minutes and last 8-12 hours
Only costs $3-5 to buy on the street
10 times stronger than Valium
Smaller than aspirin and disolves quickly
Colorless, tasteless and odorless when added to any drink
Can cause 2-3 days of fuzziness or total lack of recall to what happened
Stays in the blood for only 2-4 hours, but can be detected in urine for up to 72 hours
Manufacturers are making changes (making the drug slower to disolve and creating a blue or green tint when added to liquid)
GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate)
Illegal to possess, produce or sell in the U.S.
Was originally promoted as a sleeping aid and body-building supplement
The ingredients are sold at most hardware stores–home manufactured
Symptoms include:
Vomiting
Dizziness
Seizures
Confusion
Intense sleepiness
Unconsciousness
Problems focusing the eyes
Hallucinations
Heart beat may be fast or slow
Possible depressed breathing (6 breaths per minute)
Loss of gag reflex
May experience memory loss and coma
May experience "Carpeting Out"–suddenly collapsing
May experience "Head Snaps"–involuntary forward snaps of the head
Can cause out of body experiences
Usually in clear liquid form (carried in eyedropper or Visine bottles)
The drug is colorless and odorless when added to any drink; at times a slight salty taste may be detected
Remains in the blood for only 4 hours and can be detected in urine for only 12 hours
The amount that can cause an overdose is unknown (may depend on the person)
Avoiding Stranger Rape
Always:
Equip your house or apartment with peepholes, dead bolts and chain locks.
Keep entrances well lit. Pull curtains and shades at night.
Ask service and deliverymen for required identification. If you have doubts, check with their company to verify their employment. If no employment verification exists, call the police.
Use initials and last names only on your mailbox and phone listings.
Hang up immediately on obscene phone calls.
Keep emergency phone numbers by each phone. Teach children to use them.
Know your neighbors. Be aware of those who can be trusted in an emergency. Use your neighborhood watch group.
Keep outside bushes and shrubbery trimmed. Be aware of potential hiding places and avoid them.
Walk assertively and be aware of your surroundings.
Have a male leave the outgoing message on your answering machine.
Have your keys out when approaching your car.
When approaching your car, look underneath and inside before entering.
Never:
Open your doors to strangers or admit them inside. If they need assistance, offer to make phone calls for them.
Leave doors or windows unlocked.
Hide a key outside.
Leave notes about your whereabouts or your planned return.
Allow small children to answer the door.
Depend on a dog to frighten off prowlers.
Enter an apartment laundry room alone. Remain alert while using public laundromats, particularly at night.
Reveal to telephone callers that you are alone or give out personal information. Instead, call out to an imaginary person. "I've got it, Tom," or tell a caller for your husband that he is busy and will call back later.
Enter an elevator occupied by an unknown man. Wait for the next one.
