UNATTENDED DRINK CAN LEAD TO HORROR

For young women today, going to a nightclub is a risky venture. It's
difficult to understand people who would tamper with someone's drink, but
that's what is happening all too frequently these days.

It's happened in Kamloops, though not in the numbers that the problem is
occurring in Vancouver. However, the same precautions should be taken in
small cities that are taken in metropolitan centres. People can't be too
careful.

Vancouver Police have launched a public information campaign warning women
about attacks that begin primarily in nightclubs and restaurants. In the
past three months, police have investigated 24 cases in which a date rape
drug was slipped into a woman's drink.

Gamma hydroxy butyrate is a tasteless, odourless drug, which, at worse, can
kill a person, but usually makes one feel intoxicated. It's an anesthetic
and central nervous system depressant. People who consume the drug lose
co-ordination, have difficulty concentrating and experience blackouts.

Women are raped with no ability to do anything about it and have trouble
helping people catch the offender because they have so little memory about
the details from the evening in question.

In Vancouver, police are introducing a coaster and poster campaign in
likely locations for the drug, as well as putting warnings in the media and
on Web sites, warning people to take extra care when they consume alcohol
in public places.

Women can no longer leave their drink unattended while they go to the dance
floor or to the washroom. It's a risk that could result in terrible
consequences. It's a public awareness campaign that will have to spread to
other communities until people realize the date rape drug is a threat not
to be taken lightly.

Kamloops women may think they are immune because they live in a relatively
safe place. They can't take the risk. Have fun, but be careful and don't
let your drink out of your sight.