ALCOHOL FAR MORE OFTEN TO BLAME FOR DATE RAPE THAN DRUGS

I read with interest of the rape conviction of former Matsqui prison
guard Balkar Singh Basra. I don't questions the conviction, but I do
question the accuracy (and relevance) of the judge's finding that the
intoxication was not by alcohol.

As an emergency physician, I have tested for "date rape" drugs
(including GHB, rohypnol and ketamine) more than 100 times, often at
the patient's request, and have yet to see a positive result.

I believe alcohol is the drug responsible for the vast majority of
date rapes and that we are doing little to address the problem when
we are distracted by less likely scenarios.

Dr. Mike Figurski

Kelowna