THE HORROR OF DATE RAPE

Bars, booze and good times are what the Saturday night party crowd know all too
well, but what happens when the typical Saturday night ends with a visit to the
emergency room?

It's a case that is becoming all too common: drugs slipped into
drinks. It reinforces the cardinal rule of the bar--never leave a
drink unattended.

Drugs are slipped into drinks all too often and not only girl's
drinks, guys have this problem as well. But what is the reason? The
typical reason is usually to knock boots with the victim.

But what kind of person resorts to the use of drugs to have
sex?

It's a question that plagues any victim, including myself. The only
answer is a very pathetic loser who needs to resort to this kind of
act just to do the deed.

From a personal experience, I do not recall anything from that
evening. Well I do, but only up until that one drink, which may have
proved lethal. There are many people who have experienced this
situation and it's a scary one. Not remembering what occurred, waking
with mysterious drinking accident bruises and knowing something
happened that you can't recall.

I am not prone to hangovers, I am one of the lucky few, that's how I
knew something happened that night because I only had four drinks.
When I woke up feeling different and not remembering anything, I knew
something was terribly wrong.

Date rape drugs are becoming as popular as weed. Date rape is often
unreported and undetected by the victim and the hospital. Rohypnol, a
drug often used, has symptoms including blackouts resembling amnesia,
nausea, vomiting, dizziness and confusion. The other drug commonly
used and the one I have personal experience with is GHB, or Liquid X.
The symptoms are the same as Rohypnol. Side effects are more serious,
however. Dizziness can persist for up to two weeks after ingestion,
leading to vomiting, intense drowsiness, seizures, comas, sometimes
death. Both of these drugs have serious side effects that may prove
deadly in the end.

This issue is a common occurrence in the bar scene and is highly
undetected because the victim's memory is unreliable and can not
provide solid proof of the crime. This is a problem only exploding
underground, however there is hope. Recently, on ABC News a story
aired about a new development by the California YWCA distributing
coasters with tests spots telling you if your drink has been tainted.
The coasters were released to the public on Thu., Oct. 6, and provide
an area liquid can be placed on. If it changes colour, a drug is
present in your drink.

Unfortunately, these coaster are only available in California. I can
only hope that they make their way north.

In the meantime I hope no one ever has to experience this situation.
In any case, beware and follow these simple tips for safe partying.

Never leave a drink unattended and don't take drinks from strangers.
If someone offers to buy you a drink, accept the drink only from the
bartenders. As an extra caution get bottled drinks. And remember,
leave with the people you came with and be aware of friends' odd behaviour.