What to Do if Your Friend Gets Roofied

Rape is a serious criminal act, with the potential for severe and lasting repercussions on the victim's life. Rape involves sexually taking advantage of another person without their consent, and this includes having sex with a person who is incoherent or unconscious. Some perpetrators try to facilitate their assault by using substances that incapacitate their victims to varying degrees.

"Appointment rape" is a term that refers to a person forcing someone that they are socially, romantically, or casually involved with to have sex without consent. Oft, this blazon of rape is conceptualized every bit a predator kickoff drugging the victim and, next, sexually assaulting them. While this is sometimes the example, date rape more often involves the perpetrator taking advantage of their victim's called insobriety. Possibly they were out celebrating with friends and had a trivial too much to drink, or unknowingly mixed certain drugs, rendering themselves incapacitated. In either scenario, the rapist takes advantage of this too-intoxicated state and forever alters the victim'southward life.

Regardless of whether the victim chose to ingest a substance or they were unknowingly drugged, information technology is vital to remember that rape is never the victim's fault. Consent must exist clear, and a lack of a stated "no" or "cease" does non establish consent. A person who is not sober cannot consent to sex!

Nearly half of all sexual assaults involve alcohol ^{one, 2, three}, just prevalence estimates for other sedative substances are not well known due to the shorter period of time that these drugs remain in the body. Some substances that are used to incapacitate people are well-known, such as Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), GHB, and ketamine, while others are not every bit widely recognized (clonazepam, etizolam, and other new substances). It is important to know the potential effects that these substances tin can have in order to recognize a risky situation and get out.

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The Dangers You Know

Some substances used for engagement rape are relatively well-known. These include:

• Rohypnol ("roofies").
• Ketamine ("special Yard").
• Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate ("GHB").

These drugs all have similar depressant effects, just each one will affect a person a little differently, peculiarly when combined with alcohol, which is commonly how these drugs are given to a victim (e.k., slipped into a drink).

Rohypnol

Rohypnol (generic proper noun: flunitrazepam) is frequently referred to by street names such as:

• Roofies.
• The Forget Pill.
• Circles.
• La Rocha.

Rohypnol is a powerful benzodiazepine that is prescribed in certain countries to care for insomnia ⁴. In the The states, withal, this drug is illegal due to its powerful effects and reputation as a date rape drug.

Rohypnol pills are tasteless, odorless, and colorless ^{4, 5} and easily dissolve in liquid, making it easy for perpetrators to discreetly incapacitate potential victims. Newer versions of the drug have a blue centre that can plow a lite-colored drink blue, merely generic versions may yet exist colorless in liquids, making them dangerously disguisable.

Taken alone, Rohypnol produces feelings of ⁴:

• Sedation.
• Lessened anxiety.
• Eased musculus tension.

Effects can begin as early equally xxx minutes after ingestion, peaking within two hours ⁵. Fifty-fifty a dose as low equally 1 mg can exert its effects for up to viii hours ⁵.

When consumed with alcohol, Rohypnol's effects are enhanced to dangerous levels. Both substances have sedative effects that compound when taken together. Signs of being roofied includefarthermost drowsiness and even amnesia, meaning the person volition not think what happened during the fourth dimension they were nether the influence, depending on the amount consumed ⁴.

Ketamine

Ketamine is apotent dissociative anesthetic medication with some hallucinogenic effects ⁶. It can be obtained in articulate liquid and white powder form, both of which mix easily with drinks, though they both accept an extreme bitter gustatory modality.

The powder may even be cut with other pulverization substances such as cocaine, MDMA, or amphetamine for snorting and may exist added to joints or cigarettes to drug a person without their knowledge. Ketamine is often referred to by the following names:

• Special Grand.
• Vitamin K.
• Kitty.
• Kit Kat.
• Cat Valium.

Ketamine's effects come on quickly, usually felt within 1-thirty minutes of ingestion and lasting about an hour ⁷. Depending on the dose, effects may range from sedation and pain relief to amnesia and dissociation, wherein the person feels removed from or out of control of her own body ^half-dozen.

These potent effects contribute to its involvement in date rape, as higher doses of ketamine may return a person unconscious or unable to move.

Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB)

GHB is short for gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid, a fundamental nervous arrangement (CNS) depressant. Xyrem (sodium oxybate) – a prescription drug used to treat a condition known equally cataplexy, every bit well as to manage the excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy – is a branded, pharmaceutical class of GHB.

GHB usually goes past the post-obit names:

• K.
• Liquid X.
• Goop.
• Scoop.

GHB is produced naturally in the body in small amounts, just it can besides be synthesized in a lab ⁸. Manmade GHB is commonly found online and on the streets and is regularly adulterated with various caustic chemicals used at some point during the procedure of its illicit production, including sodium hydroxide (e.grand., lye – found in some drain cleaners). GHB is sought out by recreational users for its CNS depressant furnishings (i.e., a sedative, relaxing loftier that can leave a person drowsy, dislocated, and amnesic ⁸.)

GHB is constitute in both a pulverisation and liquid course, and both dissolve hands in liquid. Information technology is colorless, odorless, and has a slight salty taste that can exist masked hands by strong flavors ⁸. Furnishings can come up on inside 10 to 20 minutes, lasting up to 4 hours ⁹. When combined with alcohol, the depressant effects are enhanced, leading to extreme sedation and memory problems, ultimately leaving a person vulnerable to assault.

What About Alcohol?

Alcohol is a drug that has widespread, prevalent use. Many people enjoy its inhibition-lowering effects, but unfortunately, some people use it to take advantage of others. Nigh half of all sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption by either the rapist or the victim ^{1, ii, 3}, simply this is not an excuse.

Remember, an intoxicated person cannot consent to sexual activity.

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Lesser-Known Dangers

Some substances that predators utilize are not equally widely recognized. Etizolam, Clonazepam, and other research chemicals accept been increasingly found in cases of rape.

Etizolam

Etizolam (aka "etizzy") is a tasteless medication related to benzodiazepines that is not approved for medical use in the United states. The drug can be obtained in both pill and powder form, and information technology produces depressant effects including ¹⁰:

• Sedation.
• Muscle relaxation.
• Retentivity loss.

In animal studies it has been plant to be up to x times more potent than Valium ¹⁰. Similar to "roofies," ketamine, and GHB, etizolam's effects are enhanced when combined with alcohol, leading to its growing reputation every bit a date rape drug.

Clonazepam

Clonazepam (trade proper noun: Klonopin) is a benzodiazepine medication, similar to Rohypnol. It is commonly referred to past the names "KPin" or "Pin").

Clonazepam dissolves very quickly in liquid, and has little to no gustation—in fact, information technology might even taste slightly sweet, which can be easily masked by other strong flavors. Effects include:

• Extreme drowsiness.
• Problems with memory.
• Blurred vision.
• Loss of coordination.

All of the effects listed above are heightened by co-consumption with alcohol, making information technology a dangerous substance in the hands of a would-exist rapist ¹¹.

"Research Chemicals"

Many substances with similar effects to these date rape drugs are beingness developed every twenty-four hours. These drugs, sometimes labeled "research chemicals," are constantly evolving and changing formulations to escape regulation.

These drugs vary widely in conception but most volition produce confusion, disorientation, and retentivity issues in the drugged individual.

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Staying Rubber

Rape is never the victim's fault—the mistake lies solely with the perpetrator. However, at that place are some precautions you can accept that may assist y'all stay safe and avoid beingness drugged:

• Be aware of the people in the room. This includes being aware of other potential victims and anyone who appears breathless or unaware of her surroundings. If anyone seems suspicious or predatory, steer articulate and pay attention to how close they get to people and drinks. If you discover yourself feeling suddenly and severely intoxicated, enquire for assist from a friend in getting abode safely. Likewise, offer help to those who announced to be severely intoxicated and at-chance.
• Keep track of what substances you and others are using. Forth similar lines, avoid taking substances (including drinks) from a person that you do not know. While we do not endorse the illicit utilise of recreational drugs, if yous do find yourself in a situation where drugs accept been obtained from someone yous don't k now, yous may consider using a testing kit to check the ingredients and ensure that they aren't lying about what they're giving you. Certain substance combinations tin can be specially debilitating, such as benzodiazepines and alcohol, cocaine and ketamine, and many other drug blends with interactive furnishings. While the best prevention method is not to take any drugs, using a testing kit can help you avert dangerous drug mixtures and adulterated substances.
• Always watch your drink! It tin be dangerously easy for a predator to sideslip a drug into someone else's drink—it just takes one moment of distraction. Even though it tin can exist inconvenient, keeping your drinkable in hand or in sight is the all-time way to ensure that nothing goes into information technology. In addition, never take a drink from a stranger unless you lot watched it be prepared and brought to you. If someone offers to buy you a beverage and y'all have, become with them to the bar and grab it yourself rather than trust them to bring it back to you.

Credit: JoeySalads

If yous encounter a person in a unsafe situation, especially if you lot run across someone existence drugged, taken advantage of, or assaulted, step in and help them. This tin can include taking immediate action or even calling for aid from police and others nearby. Everyone has to work together to forestall rape, and looking out for ane some other is the best way to foster a network of rubber.

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What to Do if You Think Y'all've Been Drugged

Outset take a moment to remind yourself that no matter what happened, it is not your fault.

If you are out on the town and suddenly feel significantly more intoxicated than y'all believe y'all should—specially if you've been hanging around or talking to a new person—you may desire to take cautionary steps to ensure your own condom. If y'all know that something is not right, tell someone—your friends, the bartender, a bouncer—or even just call a cab to accept y'all domicile. If you've been drugged, you need to become to a safe place as before long equally possible or attempt to make sure someone is looking out for you.

If you do not recollect what happened the night earlier and you suspect that someone may have raped you, first take a moment to remind yourself that no matter what happened, it is not your mistake.

Fuzzy memory of the nighttime before and extreme hangover symptoms may bespeak that you were drugged. Here are some things that you tin inquire yourself to requite y'all a better idea of whether or non you were drugged:

• Do I feel like something happened merely I tin't call up?
• Are there whatever marks on my body that might indicate sexual assault such as bruises?
• Are my clothes disheveled?
• Does it seem similar I was feeling stronger effects than would be expected?
• Was there anyone that gave me an odd or uncomfortable feeling?

A victim of drugged rape may not be aware of what happened until many hours subsequently ¹². Because many of these drugs procedure through the body within this timeframe, there may exist no fashion of knowing that drugs were involved. Regardless of whether the substance is cleared from the body or not, it is vital to get care right away by going to a hospital or rape crisis centre. If you can, have a trusted friend or family fellow member drive you and bring a change of wearing apparel to the hospital/center because they will take the ones that you woke up in for show.

In lodge to preserve as much potential evidence as possible, do non urinate, shower, wash your hands, brush your teeth, eat, or drink before you become to a hospital or crisis middle. This period of time is going to be difficult, equally the doctors take to make certain to get all possible show they tin can.

From the infirmary or crisis center, call the police. They will take you run through your memory of what happened, and may want to collect further evidence from the surface area where you believe the assault happened—even a drinking glass or bodily fluids on the bed tin help further the investigation. Be sure to tell the constabulary everything you can, remembering that nothing you did justifies sexual assail.

Once you are out of the hospital, seek comforting support. Counseling and therapy are invaluable resource for those coping with sexual assault. Calling a crisis center or hotline can help you connect with someone who knows how to help victims of rape cope with all the emotions and changes that come from such an experience. The National Sexual Assault Hotline at i-800-656-HOPE is a corking resources for those recovering from sexual assault.

Healing yourself after rape is never easy, only taking all possible steps to ensure that your rapist is caught and convicted and that yous take the dear, support, and skills training that you need will help you to heal.

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Bank check YOUR INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR Addiction TREATMENT

Find out if your insurance coverage includes addiction rehab and treatment by visiting the links below:

• Blue Cross Blueish Shield
• Humana
• Aetna
•  Kaiser Permanente

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Source: https://drugabuse.com/drugs/date-rape-drugs/

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