Next time you decide to hang out at a classy lounge, bar, or discotheque, don’t just gulp down the drink proffered by your “friend”. Beware! It could be mixed with a deadly 'Rohypnol' Or ‘date rape pill’.Next time you decide to hang out at a classy lounge, bar, or discotheque, don’t just gulp down the drink proffered by your “friend”. Beware! It could be mixed with a deadly ‘date rape pill’.
The ‘date rape’ drugs, mixed discreetly with drinks, are meant to deaden the senses of the drinker, making them unable to ward off sexual assault.
The drugs make a woman lose her discretionary ability and she falls victim to sexual exploitation, with or without her knowledge.
“A woman loses her ability to make appropriate decisions within a few minutes of gulping down a drink spiked with a date rape pill. She remains active and responsive physically but is not aware of what is happening with her. She becomes a slave to other’s directions so long as the drug acts in her system,” a police official said.
“The victims remain unaware of the fact that they have been sexually assaulted. If they do remember something and report the matter to the police, the case falls flat in the court due to lack of evidence and the victim’s’ poor memory,” he added.
Recounting such an incident in Gurgaon,India a woman employed with a multinational company suspected that a colleague might have sexually assaulted her during a party.
However, she did not pursue the matter since she was not sure of the facts and feared defamation. However, there are no official figures for cases involving the use of date rape drugs.
Rohypnol has been associated with date rape, and has also been called the "Forget Pill," "Trip-and-Fall," and "Mind-Erasers." In combination with alcohol, it can induce a blackout with memory loss and a decrease in resistance. Girls and women around the country have reported being raped after being involuntarily sedated with Rohypnol, which was often slipped into their drink by an attacker. The drug has no taste or odor so the victims don't realize what is happening. About ten minutes after ingesting the drug, the woman may feel dizzy and disoriented, simultaneously too hot and too cold, or nauseated. She may experience difficulty speaking and moving, and then pass out. Such victims have no memories of what happened while under the drug's influence
An official of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said:It is legal in Europe and Mexico, and prescribed for sleep problems or as anaesthesia. The other two drugs are gamma hydroxybutyric acid or GHB and Ketamine, used for veterinary purposes.
“Such drugs are usually unavailable under their genuine names in the open market, but can be obtained by their street names by shelling out extra money.”
Police say a few years ago the use of such drugs was restricted to those who were involved in cheating passengers in trains and buses by spiking their drinks, but now college students and young working people are using it to sexually exploit women.
Such cases are often reported from suburbs of the national capital, where bars, pubs and other party joints have mushroomed in recent years.
He said chances of such incidents become higher when a woman parties with a casual acquaintance.
“Women are unsafe in the company of casual acquaintances. They must not accept drinks until or unless they have complete faith in someone. Accepting drinks from strangers is an absolute NO.
“Woman should never leave their drinks unattended, even if they are going to washrooms. Always try to have a friend who does not drink along with you to ensure you are safe while consuming alcohol,” he added.
Officials said Internet chatting and social networking sites are proving to be platforms for rapists to hunt their victims.
“Avoid accepting drinks when you are on a date with someone you hardly know. If it is unavoidable then choose to take it from a closed container and ask someone to open in front of you".
He added that if you think you have fallen prey to the drugs then report the matter immediately to the police and get the investigation started as the drugs leave the body quickly. The drug leaves the body within 72 hours and cannot be traced in a urine or blood test.
“Generally people don’t report the matter as either they are unaware of the assault or are shy. They must report the matter to police to prevent the assaulters from harming other women.”
Rohypnol tablets are white, scored on one side, with the word "ROCHE" and an encircled one or two (depending on the dosage) on the other. They are sold in pre-sealed bubble packs of one or two mg doses. Rohypnol can often be dissolved in a drink, and undetectable.
It is often used in conjunction with other drugs. It is usually ingested orally, but can be snorted. Teen use of Rohypnol is increasing. The most common pattern of use is by teenagers and young adults as an alcohol extender in an attempt to create a dramatic "high" most often in combination with beer, or as a drug to incapacitate a victim before a sexual assault.
Rohypnol can cause physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms include headache, muscle pain, confusion, hallucinations and convulsions. Seizures may occur up to a week after cessation of use.
Here are a few suggestions for staying aware and alert:
- Be wary about accepting drinks from anyone you don't know well or long enough to trust. · If you are accepting a drink, make sure it's from an unopened container and that you open it yourself.
- Don't put your drink down and leave it unattended, even to go to the restroom.
- Notify other females you know about the effects of this dangerous drug.
- If you think that you have been a victim, notify the authorities immediately.
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