DRUG-RELATED SEXUAL ASSAULTS RISE IN RENFREW COUNTY

Police and social service agencies in Renfrew County say they are concerned
about an increase in the number of sexual assaults that may involve rape drugs.

The county's new rape-drug committee says there have been more than a dozen
reports of drug-related sexual assaults in the last year.

One man has already been charged with allegedly slipping a woman the
incapacitating drug GHB and sexually assaulting her. Samples of substances
in two other cases are being tested. And there are several other cases that
have signs of similar factors.

"It's definitely a concern of ours," said OPP Det.-Sgt. Dave Howat, who
co-ordinates investigations into serious crimes in Renfrew County.

But, he adds, there has not been a discernable pattern in the attacks.

The increase in such cases prompted members of several agencies and groups
- -- including the police, the county's health unit, family and child
services, and sexual assault centre -- to form the Renfrew County Rape Drug
Committee.

The committee will hold a press conference tomorrow at the Women's Sexual
Assault Centre in Eganville to highlight the dangers of the drugs and what
people can do to protect themselves from such an attack. An alleged victim
of a rape-drug attack is to talk about her experience.

Cases where rape drugs are used during sexual assaults have been rare.

But, in the last year in Renfrew County, the numbers rose sharply, and the
committee says there have been more cases that have likely gone unreported:
GHB, the most commonly used drug in such attacks, often leaves people with
no memory of what happened.

And it's not just Renfrew.

Hospital and police officials for the Ottawa region agree there is
anecdotal evidence that suggests greater numbers of assaults involving
date-rape drugs in the capital.

But a police spokeswoman noted the assaults are difficult to investigate
because the drug only stays in the body a short time.

"Often by the time the victim comes around, starts talking to friends about
what happened, and decides to seek treatment, the drug has left her
system," said Sgt. Jenny Edge, of the sexual assault and child abuse unit.
"So we're left with reports that describe symptoms without any evidence of
the actual drug."

Halina Siedlikowski, coordinator of the Regional Sexual Assault Treatment
Program at Ottawa Hospital, estimated 20 per cent of the approximately 150
adult rape victims her centre treats every year were drugged before they
were assaulted.

Another 60 victims under the age of 16 are treated at CHEO.

Carolyne Gendron, volunteer co-ordinator at the sexual assault centre, says
workers in her group started noticing an increase in such cases some time
ago, and the committee has developed a plan to raise awareness about the issue.

"I think the tendency is to think this kind of thing doesn't happen in
Renfrew County, but it is," Ms. Gendron said.

Information packages will be available at the press conference, which will
be open to the public, at the sexual assault centre in Eganville, 74 Maple
St., at 10 a.m.