'DATE RAPE' DRUG BEING USED IN RED DEER

I am a 23-year-old woman living in Red Deer.

I have lived here for over two years now but I have been coming to
drink at the bars here since I turned 18.

Time and time again, I hear stories of girls who have been given the
"date rape" pill and what the end results have been.

Considering that it has happened to me on a few occasions, it bothers
me more every time I hear it.

Red Deer is supposed to be known as a safe and quiet city and most of
the time it really is.

But what is the city of Red Deer doing about this?
Nothing.

I speak on behalf of many of my girlfriends who live in Red Deer and
it has come to a point where a lot of us are afraid to go to the bar.

Yes, you can watch your drink and keep it close to you at all times,
but with the blink of an eye it can get slipped into your drink.

There are three main types of the "date rape" pill, which all enter
the system within 10 to 15 minutes and leave the system within 24 to
48 hours. "Date Rape" is one of the fastest growing drug-facilitated,
sexual assault crimes today.

In most cases, this is how it happens: perpetrators target
unsuspecting victims by slipping illicit drugs into their beverages at
dance parties, bars or nightclubs.

These substances are colourless, tasteless and odorless so the victim
has absolutely no way of knowing that the drink he or she is about to
consume will cause severe impairment and leave him or her
defenceless.

The victim is then left at the mercy of the perpetrator, led away to
somewhere private and ultimately assaulted.

Speaking from experience, this pill does things to you that are almost
indescribable.

You usually lose the ability to speak in full and understandable
sentences, walking is more than difficult, your body goes numb as if
falling into some drunken coma, you forget who you are and where you
are.

I think this would have to be one of the scariest feelings for any
person whether it be man or woman.

I think that bars should offer cups with lids, even with a cap for the
straw, or people should have the option of bringing there own cup to
the bar that they would feel safe with.

Or the bars should supply the "date rape" tests on the bar counter.
This is a liquid you put in your drink and the colour of the liquid
would change if you happened to have something slipped in your drink.

Maybe this would let potential perpetrators be a little more aware
that we are all watching.

You may read this and think that it's not a huge issue, but it could
be your daughter, sister, girlfriend or a close friend whom this
happens to, not because she is careless at the bar but only because
she happens to be at the wrong place at the right time.

Wouldn't you rather put an end to this problem now before it hurts
someone who you know and love?

Shawna Bauer,

Red Deer