WARNING FOR WOMEN ON INCREASE IN USE OF DATE RAPE DRUG

Conor Keane

AT LEAST 30 women have been raped this year by men using date rape drugs,
according to the latest estimates by Rape Crisis Centres.

The controversial drugs have been made a controlled substance in the USA,
and last night there were calls for the criminalisation of unauthorised
possession of the drugs in this country.

Rape Crisis Centres are reporting increased date drug use in rapes and Mary
Crilly, of the Cork Rape Crisis Centre, who has been monitoring the
situation nationally, said there is need for action to prevent the misuse of
the drugs here.

She said their use was particularly pernicious and she believes that many
Irish women have been raped or sexually abused while under their influence
but are unaware of what has happened to them.

"The drugs can be administered easily by dropping them into drinks, as many
of them are odourless and tasteless," she said.

"The drug companies should really do something to make them easily
identifiable by taste or smell, so that they cannot be slipped over
unsuspectingly on someone.

"There have been at least six drug rapes in Cork so far this year, and the
same picture is emerging from the other Rape Crisis Centres," said Ms
Crilly. "But we feel these figures could just be the tip of the iceberg."

In the USA three chemicals used as date rape drugs are set to be added to
the government’s schedule of controlled substances. Ms Crilly wants similar
legislation to be introduced here.

"Criminalising the possession of these drugs will not eliminate the problem
but it will put a dent in the more widespread use of drugs like this," she
said. The main date rape drugs are Rohypnol, Gamma hydroxybutyric acid
(GHB), Ketamine, an animal tranquilliser, and Gamma butyrlactone, (GBL).

Ms Crilly said women and young girls should be very aware that there are
predatory men using date rape drugs in this country.

"If a girl feels unexpectedly under the influence of alcohol after just a
drink or two they should beware and make sure there are friends around to
take care of them," she said.

Ms Crilly said it was impossible to say precisely how many women have been
raped following the use of date rape drugs this year but, from her contacts
with rape crisis centres around the country, she said the figure would be at
least 30.

"These drugs are used as weapons against women to commit violent crimes in
the same way as a gun or a knife.

"If someone has these drugs when they are not needed for medication then
they are up to no good," she said.

Ms Crilly advised women who think they may have been knocked out by a date
rape drug to go to their GP or nearest rape crisis centre so their blood can
be tested. Traces of the drugs remain in the system for about 48 hours.