Substance-Related Disorders
"Date Rape" Drugs
- Important Facts
- How "Date Rape" Drugs are Typically Used
- Effects of "Date Rape" Drugs
- Withdrawal Symptoms
- What to Look for
- Safety Tips: Avoid Becoming a Victim of "Date Rape" Drugs
- For Parents: What to Listen for
Important Facts
- The most common "date rape" drugs are Rohypnol and GHB.
- "Date rape" drugs are commonly found on college campuses and in clubs.
- The amnesiac state caused by "date rape" drugs can begin within 10 minutes.
- "Date rape" drugs are sedatives that are sometimes prescribed as a sleep aid outside of the United States.
- "Date rape" drugs are illegal in the United States.
- Rohypnol is similar to Valium but is 10 times more powerful.
- Rohypnol is known to cause:
- Impairment of motor skills
- Muscle relaxation
- Sleep
- Temporary amnesia
- A two-milligram dose of Rohypnol when added to one beer, can result in a person not remembering events in the past 8 hours, despite sensing that something disturbing may have happened.
- After ingestion of "date rape" drugs, the victim may become:
- Agitated
- Disinhibited
- Excited
- "Date rape" drugs can be detected through urinalysis.
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How "Date Rape" Drugs are Typically Used
- "Date rape" drugs are typically slipped into a drink and when dissolved have no taste or odor.
- Within 10 minutes of ingesting these drugs, victims may experience:
- Dizziness and/or disorientation
- Hot or cold flashes
- Nausea
- Difficulty moving
- Difficulty speaking
- Black out
- Sexual assault typically occurs after a person becomes incapacitated.
- Victims often have no memory of the abuse that occurred while under the influence of these drugs.
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Effects of "Date Rape" Drugs
Effects begin within 30 minutes, peak within 2 hours, and can persist for up to 8 hours.
- Aggressive behavior
- Blackouts (may last from 8 to 24 hours)
- Confusion
- Decreased blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Impaired judgement
- Impaired memory
- Impaired motor skills
- Increased vulnerability to sexual attack/assault
- Infrequent urination
- Inhaling fluid into the lungs
- Lack of awareness of attack/assault
- Loss or reduction of an inhibition
- Stomach problems
- Visual disturbances
"Date rape" drugs have also been known to be fatal.
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Withdrawal Symptoms
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Convulsions
- Hallucinations
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Muscle pain
- Seizures
- Sweating
- Tremors
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What to Look for
- White tablets, scored on one side, with the word "ROCHE" and an encircled "1" or "2" on the other side.
- "Date rape" drugs are sold in pre-sealed bubble packs of 1 or 2 mg doses.
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Safety Tips: Avoid Becoming a Victim of "Date Rape"
- Do not accept drinks from anyone you do not know well and trust.
- If you accept a drink, make sure it is from an unopened container and that you open it yourself.
- Do not put your drink down or leave it unattended.
- Warn others of the effects of these dangerous drugs.
- If you think that you have been a victim, notify the police immediately.
- Never, under any circumstances, leave a friend who is displaying the effects of a "date rape" drug.
- Beverages in punch bowls are easily contaminated with “date rape” drugs and therefore should be avoided.
- If you or someone you know has ingested a "date rape" drug, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.
- If someone falls unconscious, lay the person on his/her side to avoid the possibility of choking. Make sure the person’s air passage is clear and that the chin is not pressed against the chest.
- Report suspected abuse.
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For Parents: What to Listen for
Rohypnol
- Circles
- Forget Me Drug, Forget Me Pill
- La Rocha
- Lunch Money Drug
- Mexican Valium
- R-2, Roach 2
- Rib
- Roachies, Roaches, Roche
- Roofies, Roophies
- Rope
- Ropies
- Row-shay
- Ruffies
- Wolfies
GHB
- Everclear
- Fantasy
- G
- Goop
- G-riffic
- Grievous Bodily Harm
- Georgia Home Boy (Boyz), Georgia Home Brew
- Great Hormones at Bedtime
- Liquid E, Liquid Ecstasy
- Liquid X
- Organic Quaalude
- Salty Water
- Somatomax
- Scoop
- Vita-G
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