FEARS RISE OVER DATE DRUGS

"All ages, all walks of life," said OPP Det. Sgt. Jim Christie, describing
the vast cross section of society whose lives have been impacted by sexual
assault.

Astonishingly, half of all Canadian women will be sexually assaulted in
their lifetime, as will one in six men, according to statistics.

Equally disturbing, however, is the increased use of sedatives as a
precursor to non-consensual sex, police say.

While alcohol remains the substance most frequently associated with these
attacks, the use of drugs like Ecstasy, GHB, Special K, and Rohypnol is
definitely on the rise.

"It is happening in our area," added Snr. Const. Mark Kinney, youth
intervention officer, Central Region. "It is happening to the extent where
we want to educate the community." To reduce the risk, representatives of
law enforcement and health care sectors have launched an information
campaign aimed at raising awareness about this growing problem.

Working in conjunction with the Regional Sexual and Domestic Assault
Treatment Centre, OPP staff are distributing about 6,000 drink coasters and
accompanying posters to bars throughout Simcoe County and Muskoka.

The colourful cardboard discs encourage patrons to "Think Before You
Drink," and warn of the threat posed by the so-called "date rape" drugs.

"It is going to develop talking and encourage conversation," said Kinney.
"And I think that is positive."

As co-ordinator for the local treatment centre - based out of Orillia
Soldiers' Memorial Hospital - Norah Holder estimated that only one per cent
of sexual assault victims in this region access the programs that are
available.

To put that into perspective, the centre received 119 people last year alone.

According to Holder, between one and two per cent of the victims who
attended the local clinic claimed to have had no more than a single
alcoholic drink before blacking-out - evidence that a sedative was likely
used to render them unconscious.

"Some people may say that is a small percentage, but it is an increase that
we have seen over the last four or five years," she added.

To that end, Holder offered the following advice.

Never leave a drink unattended or accept a drink from a stranger or anyone
who cannot be trusted.

At bars and restaurants, be sure to take drinks from the bartenders and
servers only.

As well, limit your drinking so as to stay in control of yourself and your
surroundings.

The physical effects of alcohol are similar to sedating drugs and include
impaired judgment, decreased muscle/motor coordination, dizziness,
confusion, and extreme drowsiness.

Most importantly, she wanted readers to remember that, regardless of
individual circumstances, if you are sexually assaulted, "It is not your fault."