WARNINGS FOR WOMEN

SYDNEY clubs may have to adopt scare campaigns warning women against
accepting drinks from strangers, the National Drug and Alcohol Centre
said yesterday.

The problem of women having drugs slipped into their drinks in
nightclubs was rife in the United States before the campaigns started
there, said NADC spokesman Paul Dillon.

"It would be a very sad situation if we saw it happening to the same
extent here," he said.

The high profile campaigns urged girls to hold on to their drinks and
always have a friend watching out for them.

Warnings were placed on coasters, posters and in women's
toilets.

"They were blanket campaigns saying to always buy your own drink hold
it at all times, don't place it down, make sure you have someone who's
not drinking at all looking out for you - the buddy system," Mr Dillon
said.

But he said the problem here was that such a campaign would "go
against everything in Australian culture".

"Here, girls go out and guys buy them drinks," Mr Dillon
said.

"The alcohol culture has changed considerably in the US because of
this - in some places, people don't offer to buy drinks for others any
more."

The most commonly used drug in such attacks is Rohypnol, a colourless,
odourless hypnotic sedative which enhances the effects of alcohol.

It causes inhibitions to disappear, memory loss and, eventually,
overwhelming sleepiness.

Fears of the misuse of Rohypnol in Australia saw authorities declare
it a drug of addiction last June.

As a result, a permit from the Department of Human Services is now
necessary before it can be prescribed.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry