Sexual
Assault and Drug Misuse
What
should I know to Protect Myself?
Introduction:
Recently, there have been a number
of reports of sexual assault, particularly in the United
States, in which drugs or other substances have been slipped
into people’s drinks. The
number of sexual assaults in which drugs are used seems to
be on the increase.
Everyone needs to be aware of
the general threat of substance misuse, and what to do if
you think that you, or someone you know, has been drugged.
Sexual assault is a concern for both men and women, and a
risk for people of all ages.
This
brochure is intended to provide you with more information
in the kinds of drugs being used, and how to protect yourself
against sexual assault involving drugs.
What
types of Substances are being misused to commit Sexual
assault?
Over the decades, alcohol and
substances such as chloral hydrate or “Mickey Finns” have
been misused to involuntary sedate individuals for sexual
assault. In
the past several years, there have been reports in which
other substances have been identified, including gamma hydroxybutyrate
(GHB), flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), triazolam (Halcion), scopolamine,
burundaga and ketamine. Recent
laboratory tests on the urine of survivors of substance-related
sexual assaults in the US showed traces of an even greater
number of substances, including alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates,
benzodiazepines, cocaine, GHB, marijuana and opiates. These
drugs may come in any form, including powder, pill, tablet
and liquid.
Sedating drugs, when criminally
misused, often are referred to by a number of street names,
of which you should be aware. These
include liquid ecstasy, Liquid X, Grievous Bodily Harm, Easy
Lay for GHB, and Special K for ketamine. Common
street names of Rohypnol include Roofies, Roachies, La Rocha
and the Forget Pill.
Actions
to Take
How
can i reduce my risk of being drugged and sexually assaulted?
- Do not leave beverages unattended
at parties or bars.
- Do not take beverages, including
alcohol, from someone you do not know well and trust.
- At a bar or club accept drinks
only from the bartender or server.
- At parties, do not accept open-container
drinks from anyone.
- Be alert to the behaviour of
friends and ask them to watch out for you. Anyone extremely
intoxicated after consuming only a small amount of alcohol
may be in danger.
What
should I do?
If
I think I’ve been drugged and sexually assaulted?
- If
you or a friend feel dizzy, confused, or have other unexplained
symptoms after drinking a beverage, get to a safe place
immediately by calling a family member, friend, the police,
or 911. If
you think you have been drugged you should go directly
to a hospital emergency room.
- f you think you have been drugged
and sexually assaulted, follow step number 1 and go directly
to a hospital emergency room. Some hospitals have sexual
assault care centers. If yours does not, call a rape crisis
hot line for information and support.
- Determine whether or not you
want to report the incident to the police. If there is
any chance you do want to report the incident, you should
not shower, bathe, douche, change clothes or straighten
up the area until all medical and legal evidence has been
collected, as these actions will destroy evidence.
- If you want to report the incident,
you can call the police before going to the hospital to
have the medical evidence collected or the police can be
contacted from the hospital. Once
at the hospital, request a test as quickly as possible
to detect the presence of sedating substances. Chances
of getting proof are best when the sample is obtained soon
after the substance has been taken. Every
hour matters.
- Try to keep a sample of the
beverage for analysis.
What
are the physical effects of sedating SUBSTANCES?
Individuals
may react differently to sedating substances depending on
the dosage, their metabolism and sensitivity to the substance,
and the presence of alcohol and/or other drugs. There
are several telltale signs that an individual maybe under
the influence of a sedating substance. Possible
effects include impaired judgment, loss of inhibition, dizziness
and confusion. If an individual appears extremely intoxicated
after drinking a non-alcoholic beverage, or only a small
amount of alcohol, they may have unknowingly ingested one
of a number of substances. Sedating
substances can temporarily affect a person’s ability to remain
awake and conscious. Someone who has been sedated may experience
sudden or unexplained drowsiness and have trouble with motor
co-ordination.
Brief periods of memory loss may
also result from the misuse of some sedating substances. This
means that the person may not remember what happened while
under the drug’s influence. Depending on the substance and
the presence of alcohol and other drugs in the person’s system,
more dangerous and sometimes life-threatening side effects
any occur.
Can
alcohol have similar sedating effects?
For centuries alcohol has been
used to facilitate sexual assault. Today
it remains the substance most frequently associated with
date rape, and the most easily accessible sedating substance.
When large quantities are consumed,
alcohol can have tremendous sedating effects, leaving anyone
vulnerable to assault. The
physical effects of alcohol are very similar to those of
sedating drugs and include impaired judgment and motor co-ordination,
disinhibition, dizziness, confusion and extreme drowsiness. If
enough alcohol is consumed, an individual may fall unconscious
or may not remember the details of what occurred.
Here
are some tips
That
may help reduce your risk of sexual assault in social
situations where alcohol is served:
- Limit alcohol consumption so
you are better able to assess your surroundings, especially
if you are in a group setting or with someone you do not
know well or trust.
- Be
cautious about consuming different types of alcoholic beverages
at one time. Mixing
various types may accelerate sedating effects.
- Eat
substantive food before consuming alcohol. A full stomach
may help curb-sedating effects.
- When
drinking alcohol in social settings, make arrangements
with a friend so that you leave together.
- Most importantly, remember
that whether you follow these tips or not, if someone sexually
assaults you, it is not your fault. You
are never to blame for someone else’s actions.
WHERE
CAN I GET HELP?
Look under Rape Crisis Centers
or Sexual Assault Care and Treatment Centres in your phone
book.Halton Rape
Crisis Center Crisis Line (905) 875-1555
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