HEALTH 101: DATE RAPE DRUGS

According to a University of Ohio study, some 2,400 cases of rape
nationwide involve the use of date rape drugs such as Rohypnol and GHB. And
these are only the cases where the victims were able to identify that they
were raped and reported it. Last weekend, I met a victim of date rape
drugs. Her story is upsetting, but I hope that her tragedy becomes a lesson.

Three years ago, Christy (not her real name) was invited to a house party
in her hometown of Dallas, Texas. She was 21 back then and described
herself as an avid clubber and raver. She was not naive to the words "GHB",
"ecstasy" and "date rape drugs." But she was naive in thinking that she
could never be a victim. That night she found out, never say never.

Christy does not recall how it happened or who did it to her. All that she
remembers is waking up the next morning in her car with her clothes torn
off. She noticed that she felt extremely hung--over even though she had no
alcoholic beverages because she was planning to drive herself home after
the party.

"I had been around drugs and such, and had heard enough stories to realize
at that moment in the car that I was a victim of date rape with some drug,"
Christy recalled.

Christy did not tell anyone because she was afraid of "the police, family
and friends." However, she did go to the doctor and got herself checked for
HIV and other conditions. Luckily, she did not end up with any
life-threatening disease, but she has had to live with the fact that she
has been raped.

"And that is the hardest part -- knowing that someone used me and dumped me
like trash in my car," Christy said. "I wish I could have protected myself
somehow, I don't like being the victim."

Christy could have protected herself had she gone to the party with a
friend. She could have also thought twice before accepting a soda from a
stranger who showed interest in her. "It must have been the drink, I should
have not accepted it."

Date rape drugs are dangerous and are becoming more common because of the
ease of their administration and use. Two of the most common date rape
drugs are GHB and Rohypnol. Both of them are illegal in the United States
but readily available from different sources.

Rohypnol is smuggled into the United States from Mexico and Colombia, the
two production sites used by Hoffman-LaRoche, the main manufacturer of
Rohypnol. In other countries Rohypnol is a legal pre-anesthetic drug and
prescription sleeping pill.

Sold legally in health food stores until 1990 as a bodybuilding drug, GHB
is now illegal but it is being produced in "street labs," consisting of
bathtubs or kitchen sinks. GHB is manufactured from common household
cleaning materials like drain cleaner and caustic soda. There is a narrow
margin between a dose that can give you a "high" and one that can kill you.

GHB

GHB is easily mistaken for water because it is usually found in small clear
plastic bottles, eyedrop bottles and even Gatorade bottles. It has a very
salty and soapy taste so rapists mix it into drinks that are bitter, such
as alcohol or cranberry juice. A victim cannot tell if GHB has been slipped
into her drink because GHB is odorless and clear. Taste would be the only
way to detect it, if possible. Once mixed with a drink, GHB takes 10 to 20
minutes to have an effect. GHB can produce drowsiness, nausea, seizures,
severe respiratory depression, amnesia, hypotonia, vomiting and even death.
GHB's dosage is difficult to regulate and when mixed with alcohol, the
effects are unpredictable and very dangerous.

Rohypnol

Rohypnol produces a sedative effect, amnesia, muscle relaxation and slowing
of psychomotor responses. Sedation usually occurs 15 to 20 minutes after it
is taken and lasts for several hours. Rohypnol is used as a date rape drug.
People around the country have been raped after the drug was slipped into
their drinks by an attacker. The drug has no odor or taste so victims do
not realize what is happening. After 10 minutes of ingestion, the victim
may feel disoriented and nauseated as well as simultaneously too hot or too
cold. She can have trouble speaking and moving and will eventually pass
out. Victims have no memory of what happened to them while under the
influence of the drug. Moreover, they cannot tell if they were sexually
assaulted or drugged because the drug metabolizes quickly and is
undetectable 72 hours after ingestion.

New technology

Drink Safe Technology has created drink testing strips and coasters that
work like litmus paper strips. The strips are small and can fit in your
pocket. They can be used discreetly. The problem is that it is not
effective for drinks that contain milk or creme products.

Furthermore, the manufacturers of Rohypnol have reformulated the drug to
make it more detectable. When put in a light--colored drink, Rohypnol will
turn the beverage bright blue. If it is put in a dark colored beverage, the
beverage will appear cloudy. The new Rohypnol will also dissolve more
slowly and form small chunky pieces.

But it will take some time for the new Rohypnol to hit the streets. Until
then, be smart about what you do and be realistic about the risks you
impose on yourself in any situation.

"Don't think it can't happen to you just because you're in a familiar
environment. I didn't think it could happen, but it did." I wish someone
would have told Christy that three years ago.