BE AWARE OF DATE-RAPE DRUG

On Saturday in The Sault Star, counsellors at the Sexual Assault Care
Centre issued a wake-up call to the community about date-rape drugs.

"Last summer we had a major influx of these types of stories and each
one was very, very similar," said Beth Desaulnier, nursing team
leader at the Sexual Assault Care Centre. "It was about 60 per cent
of our clients who came here with the same story."

This sinister cocktail is easily made in homes using recipes found on
the internet.

Desaulnier said the centre's statistics show that between June 2005
and June 2006, about 28 clients reported the same scenario through
the "medical" arm of the centre and an additional 15 and 18 clients
did so through the "counselling" arm. Unfortunately, when it comes to
sexual assualts these statistics are only the tip of the iceberg.
Only a small percentage of victims actually report that they have
been sexually assaulted.

"This is the biggest trend we've seen in the history of the centre in
my 15 years," Desaulnier said. "It becomes more of a huge problem
because police are not hearing about it."

Women must also be aware of the possiblities and take soe
precautions. These include:

Don't accept drinks from other people.

Open containers yourself.

Keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom.

Don't share drinks.

Don't drink from punch bowls or other large, common, open containers.
They may already have drugs in them.

Don't drink anything that tastes or smells strange. Sometimes, GHB
tastes salty.

Have a non-drinking friend with you to make sure nothing happens.

The summer season is filled with fun and parties. Enjoy yourself, but
be aware. Some simple precautions can prevent a tragic situation.