DRUGGED DRINK CLAIM QUESTIONED

Doctors and police have not been able to confirm claims by a young
North Delta woman that she was slipped a date-rape drug while at a
local bar.

The woman told police she was drugged with a form of GHB (gamma
hydroxy butyrate) - a failed medical sedative that causes amnesia -
while at Roosters Country Cabaret on July 19. She also told police
that she is asthmatic and borrowed another patron's inhaler at the bar
that night. She later felt a rapid heart beat, then felt ill before
losing consciousness in the bar. She was taken by ambulance to Ridge
Meadows Hospital.

RCMP Cpl. Rhonda Stoner said a doctor concluded the girl was suffering
the affects of "some drug," but could not confirm if she had ingested
GHB or a variation of it.

There have been 14 cases of suspected date-rape druggings and possible
sexual assaults at Vancouver night clubs in the past two weeks.

The incident at Roosters is the only local case reported recently,
Stoner said. Hospital staff did not report it to police. The woman
did, however, call RCMP.

Stoner said an officer intends to talk to staff from Roosters. "It's
difficult for police after the fact," Stoner said. "There were
hundreds of people at the bar."

Dr. Paul Sobey has not yet seen a confirmed case of GHB during his
four years as an ER doctor at Royal Columbian Hospital in New
Westminster. "It's difficult to confirm," he said. "You can't do urine
screening for the drug."

GHB is only detectable through a Gas Chromotography Mass Spectroscopy
(GCMS) test. But such tests take seven to 10 days to produce results.
By then, Sobey said patients have already been treated. "In most
cases, GHB is never discovered."

The bigger problem, Sobey said, is alcohol. "More than 90% of
unwanted, unplanned sexual experiences are the consequence of alcohol."

GHB does not change the taste of alcohol, he said. GHB is a
colourless, odourless liquid. It can produce a mild euphoria, as well
as lead to vomiting, seizures and coma. The affects vary from person
to person and on the quantity consumed.

Sobey said there are numerous other drugs, like Rohypnol, being used
for date-rape purposes. "I would venture to guess it's not all GHB."

To him, "It's alcohol until proven otherwise."

Sobey said there may be a role for GCMS testing to detect a common
drug in the cluster of date-rape druggings in Vancouver. But "that's
really a role for the RCMP," he said.

Kelly Sheriff, part-owner of Roosters, doesn't believe GHB was in her
bar. "Lots of girls claim they were slipped it," she said. "They all
have parents."

Sheriff thinks parents should be more concerned about the rampant use
of ecstacy than date-rape drugs. She said ecstasy use is reflected
industry-wide in diminished alcohol sales. "Kids on E don't drink
alcohol, just water."

Sheriff said she isn't concerned about GHB, also used as a
recreational drug. However, she plans to apply to the municipality for
a patio liquor license so patrons can smoke outside without having to
leave their drinks unattended. "It's just a safety precaution at this
point," Sheriff said.

Stoner advises bar patrons to never leave drinks unattended. "You just
have to look away for a split second and the whole table of drinks
could be contaminated," she said.

"You can't trust anyone any more."