Drug and Alcohol
Date Rape Drugs: Effects & Symptoms of the Most Common Date Rape Drugs
Date rape drugs are a term for drugs used to facilitate sexual assault. Learn more about these drugs, their effects, and how to protect yourself.
Warning: This article discusses sexual assault.
Sexual assault remains a critical issue, with around half of women experiencing such violence. Alarmingly, one-third of these cases involve date rape drugs—substances that render you vulnerable to assault.
In this article, we'll explore these dangerous drugs, their types, side effects, symptoms of being drugged, and preventive measures. It's essential for you to stay informed about these substances to protect yourself and others. Let’s learn more about how to guard against this pervasive threat together.
What Are Date Rape Drugs?
Date rape drugs are substances used to facilitate sexual assault by incapacitating the victim, making them unable to resist or remember the assault. These drugs can be added to drinks without the victim's knowledge and are often colorless, tasteless, and odorless, making them difficult to detect.
Key Facts About Date Rape Drugs
Prevalence of Sexual Assault
One in six American women and one in thirty-three American men are sexual assault survivors.
College campuses have high assault rates, especially among TGQN students.
About 11 million women have experienced drug or alcohol-facilitated assault.
Impact of Intoxicating Substances
These substances leave victims helpless and defenseless.
Alcohol is involved in half of sexual assault cases.
Many assaults involve sedatives like GHB, ketamine, and Rohypnol (flunitrazepam).
Common Date Rape Drugs
GHB: GHB is a depressant that can cause unconsciousness and memory loss.
Ketamine: Ketamine is an anesthetic that can lead to disorientation and immobility.
Rohypnol: Rohypnol is a sedative that can incapacitate and erase memory.
Understanding the dangers of date rape drugs is essential for preventing and addressing sexual assault. Stay informed and vigilant to protect yourself and others from these heinous crimes.
Types of Date Rape Drugs
Date rape drugs are substances used to incapacitate victims, making them vulnerable to sexual assault. These drugs have a depressing effect on the central nervous system, and their effects are often amplified when mixed with alcohol. Here, we'll explore both commonly known and lesser-known date rape drugs and their effects.
Common Date Rape Drugs
Rohypnol (Roofies): Rohypnol, commonly known as roofies, is a powerful sedative that causes sedation, muscle relaxation, and amnesia. Often slipped into drinks, it renders the victim incapacitated and unable to remember the assault. Its effects are heightened when mixed with alcohol, making it a dangerous tool for perpetrators.
Ketamine (Special K): Ketamine, or Special K, is an anesthetic that can cause disorientation, hallucinations, and immobility. While used medically for anesthesia, its misuse in social settings leads to severe disorientation, making it difficult for victims to defend themselves or recall the assault.
GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate): GHB, known as Liquid Ecstasy, induces drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and memory loss. This central nervous system depressant is often undetectable when added to beverages, making it a preferred drug for incapacitating victims quickly and effectively.
Lesser-Known Date Rape Drugs
Clonazepam (Klonopin): Clonazepam, also called Klonopin, is a benzodiazepine similar to Rohypnol. Known by street names like Pin and KPin, it dissolves easily in liquids and can be masked by strong-flavored drinks. It causes extreme drowsiness, blurry vision, lack of coordination, and memory issues, which are further amplified by alcohol.
Etizolam (Etizzy): Etizolam, or Etizzy, is a thienodiazepine not approved for medical use in many countries. It is obtained illegally in powder or pill form. Like clonazepam, it causes memory loss, muscle relaxation, and sedation. Its potency is significantly increased when combined with alcohol, making it a dangerous and effective tool for incapacitating victims.
Understanding the effects and risks of these drugs can help you stay alert and take preventive measures to protect yourself and others from potential harm. Stay informed and vigilant in social settings to avoid becoming a victim of these dangerous substances.
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What Are the Symptoms of Date Rape Drugs?
Date rape drugs are used to incapacitate victims, making them vulnerable to sexual assault. Recognizing the symptoms of these drugs can help you take immediate action if you suspect that you or someone else has been drugged. Here are the common symptoms associated with date rape drugs:
Common Symptoms of Date Rape Drugs
Drowsiness and Dizziness: Victims often feel extremely tired, sleepy, or lightheaded. This can happen very quickly after ingestion.
Confusion: A person might feel disoriented or have difficulty understanding what is happening around them.
Memory Loss: Victims might experience gaps in their memory, particularly regarding the events immediately before and after the drug was ingested.
Nausea and Vomiting: Feeling sick to the stomach or vomiting is a common reaction to these drugs.
Loss of Coordination: Victims might find it hard to walk or perform simple tasks, feeling unsteady or clumsy.
Visual Disturbances: Blurred vision or other visual impairments are common.
Muscle Relaxation: Severe muscle relaxation can occur, making it difficult for victims to move or resist.
Slurred Speech: Speech may become slow or slurred, making it difficult for others to understand the victim.
Rapid Onset of Intoxication: Feeling unusually drunk after consuming little to no alcohol can be a warning sign.
Specific Symptoms by Drug
Rohypnol (Roofies): Extreme drowsiness, blackouts, loss of muscle control, and profound sedation.
GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate): Nausea, vomiting, confusion, seizures, and unconsciousness.
Ketamine: Hallucinations, detached feeling from reality, immobility, and disorientation.
Additional Symptoms to Watch For
Sudden Behavioral Changes: If someone becomes unusually aggressive, passive, or emotional, it may indicate they have been drugged.
Unusual Physical Reactions: Unexpected sweating, chills, or shaking can also be symptoms.
Inability to Account for Time: If a person is unable to remember what happened over a certain period, this could be a sign of being drugged.
Recognizing these symptoms early can help in seeking prompt medical attention and protecting oneself from further harm. If you suspect you or someone else has been drugged, it is crucial to get to a safe place immediately and seek medical help.
What Are the Side Effects of Date Rape Drugs?
All date rape drugs are dangerously powerful and are used with a single goal: to put a person into a defenseless position. For instance, Rohypnol is a CNS tranquilizer, GHB is used as anesthesia, and ketamine is an analgesic and painkiller.
Their use typically leads to drowsiness, lowered inhibition, memory-related problems, and impaired judgment. They are also known as paralyzing drugs since they affect a person's muscle control leading to the inability to call for help or even move around.
A few adverse side effects of experiencing date rape drugs are:
Lowered level of awareness.
Reduced inhibitions and vulnerability.
Decreased ability to call for help or fight back in case of assault.
Increased possibility of someone being coerced while feeling dizzy, high, and nauseous.
There is a possibility that an individual becomes unconscious and incapacitated condition.
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How Long Does Date Rape Drugs Stay in Your System?
Date rape drugs are potent, and their effects can be experienced quickly. Generally, those drugs that have a quick onset wear off quickly too. Most date rape drugs remain in a system for a short period and are flushed out quickly.
Rohypnol or flunitrazepam effects can be felt within half an hour and last several hours. GHB effects can be experienced within 15 minutes and last about three to four hours.
How to Detect Date Rape Drugs?
Suppose you suspect you might have been taken advantage of sexually. In that case, it is vital to get medical attention right away. Call your best or trusted friend for an emergency room visit or call 911 emergency services. It may sound uncomfortable at that point, but it's essential to detect if there is any drug present in your body.
This is why it's recommended to not use the shower or urinate, eat, drink, wash your hands, brush your teeth or hair, or change your clothes. All these are evidence that is essential for the future. The hospital is most likely to take urine samples to detect the presence of any date rape drug or similar substance. Some drugs leave the body quickly, so it's essential to be quick.
We’re Here To Help You Find Your Way
Do you need advice about date rape drugs? Reach out today.
Protecting Yourself From Date Rape Drugs
Protecting or being alert about the presence of date drug drugs does not have to spoil your party mood. You enjoy and indulge in every festivity while being cautious about certain things. You can take certain measures to protect yourself from date rape drugs.
Do not take offered drinks from others.
Monitor your drinks that are poured or mixed in the bar. Make sure you carry it yourself.
Open the containers and other things by yourself.
Do not leave your drink unattended in the bathroom or anywhere else. Drink it or leave it with a trusted friend.
Do not taste or drink that has an odd smell or taste.
In case you leave your drink unattended, pour it out.
If you drink a small amount of any drink but experience something like you're being drunk, seek help.
It is also essential to know that sometimes people can become unconscious due to consuming too much alcohol. As a friend or maybe even a stranger, you can keep an eye out for them because they cannot defend themselves. If you are a friend, check for signs of being roofied or spiked date rape drugs and look out for them.
What to Do If You Have Been Drugged?
If you have been roofied, take a moment to understand and remind yourself that none of this is your fault. When you think you feel more intoxicated than you should be and are out with someone you don't know much about, there are some vital measures to take.
Let Someone Know
First of all, inform someone about it. Be it a friend, bartender, or bouncer, tell them something is wrong. After that, get a cab and go home. You have to be safe until you get to your home safely. So ask someone you trust to look out for you.
Remember: It’s NOT Your Fault
If you do not remember what happened the night before and suspect you may have been raped, just remember that you have nothing to do with that. Remind yourself that it's not your fault. It will take time for the drugs to be flushed out of your system.
Seek Medical Attention
Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect that you have been poisoned with Rohypnol or another date rape drug. It is crucial to get help as soon as possible to ensure your safety and well-being. Do not hesitate to reach out to healthcare professionals or contact emergency services for assistance. Your health and safety are the top priorities in such situations.
We’ll Lead You to New Heights
Would you like more information about date rape drugs? Reach out today.
Drug Abuse and Trauma Go Hand-in-Hand…But They’re Treatable
Drug lacing, also known as the act of adding substances like GHB or Rohypnol to someone's drink without their knowledge, is a serious issue that can have harmful consequences. These substances are often referred to as date rape drugs because they can be used to incapacitate individuals and make them vulnerable to sexual assault.
When these drugs are slipped into a person's drink, they can take effect within minutes and leave the individual feeling confused and disoriented. This can make it difficult for them to defend themselves or even realize that they have been drugged.
In addition to the immediate physical effects, being a victim of drug lacing can also result in long-term mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It is important to always keep an eye on your drink when in social settings and never accept drinks from strangers to protect yourself from falling victim to this dangerous practice.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance addiction or the issues that sexual violence causes, The Edge Treatment Center can help. We specialize in addressing both substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.
Contact The Edge Treatment Center to learn more.
We’re Here To Help You Find Your Way
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, there is hope. Our team can guide you on your journey to recovery. Call us today.
Written by
Brian MooreContent Writer
Reviewed by
Jeremy ArztChief Clinical Officer
Drug and Alcohol
August 12, 2024
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
To protect yourself, never leave your drink unattended, avoid accepting drinks from strangers, and keep an eye on your friends. Using drink test strips that detect common date rape drugs can also be helpful.
Signs that someone has been drugged include sudden drowsiness, confusion, difficulty standing, slurred speech, and memory loss. If someone exhibits these symptoms, get them to a safe place and seek medical help immediately.
The effects of date rape drugs can begin within minutes and last for several hours. However, the exact duration depends on the type and amount of the drug used, as well as the individual's metabolism and overall health.
Long-term effects of date rape drugs can include ongoing memory problems, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The psychological impact can be significant, and seeking professional help is crucial for recovery.
If you’ve been drugged and assaulted, it’s important to report the incident to law enforcement as soon as possible. Preserve any evidence, seek medical care, and consider speaking with a legal advocate who can guide you through the process of pressing charges.