MORE WOMEN DRUGGED AND RAPED, STUDY FINDS

Date-rape drugging rates more than doubled in Vancouver, Richmond and
the North Shore from 1999-2002 compared to the rate in the previous
five years, according to a study in the Canadian Journal of Public
Health.

And the lead researcher believes the problem is potentially "much
larger" than the 246 date drug rapes in the study.

"A very small number of women who experience sexual assault report it
to police or to hospital," said Dr. Margaret McGregor, who teaches in
the University of B.C.'s Department of Family Practice and works at
the Mid-Main Community Health Centre.

McGregor cited a 1993 Statistics Canada study that showed fewer than
10 per cent of individuals who have been sexually assaulted report to
a hospital.

She and her colleagues had noticed an increase in the number of
drug-facilitated sexual assaults. The study was an attempt to quantify
the rates.

It found the mean annual incidence of sexually assaulted females where
drugs were used was 3.4 per 100,000 from 1993-1998.

From 1999-2002, the rate jumped to 10.7 per 100,000.

Most at risk were women aged 15-19 years.

Vancouver police spokeswoman Const. Ann Drennan said authorities have
noticed an increase in date rape drugging but she can only remember
one conviction in the last few years, that being of a gay man preying
on other males.

The problem is that the drugs used, such as Rohypnol or gamma
hydroxybutyrate [GBH], often give victims amnesia.

"They don't remember a thing, although they know something bad has
happened to them," said Drennan, citing the recent case of one woman
who was assaulted and left at the entrance to a culvert.

"The last thing she remembered was having drinks with friends," said
Drennan.

Without evidence, police are stymied.

Drennan suggests anyone out partying should never leave their drink
behind.

"If you leave your drink at a club, don't think you can come back and
resume drinking that drink. You can't."