Rape, “date

Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) is most commonly ingested orally, frequently in conjunction with alcohol or other drugs. It is often taken with other CNS depressants and has been given to women (without their knowledge) to lower their inhibitions. Thus it has been called a date-rape drug. 

Nevertheless, there have been reports of Ecstasy powder being slipped into an unsuspecting person s drink. In such instances, a person under the influence of Ecstasy might experience confusion and impaired judgment, and may engage in behaviors that he or she would not normally engage in. Thus, Ecstasy is often still considered a date rape drug. 

Although the most well-known date rape drug is Rohypnol (see Chapter 5), the effects of GHB have also been exploited and used to commit sexual assault. In fact, the number of GHB-related sexual assaults in recent years has paralleled or even surpassed those involving Rohypnol. The number of GHB-related sexual assaults may be vastly underestimated because GHB is metabolized rapidly by the body and is often not detectable in blood or urine when the victim reports the... 

GHB, GBL, and BD (GHB analogues) are used as date rape drugs for the following reasons ... 

GHB is currently extremely popular in the dance club and rave scene. It is also popular among the gay community as well as with exotic dancers and strippers. It is primarily used for its ability to produce euphoria, intoxication, and enhanced sexual feelings. Others use it as a sleep aid or to enhance bodybuilding. Still others use it intentionally as a date rape drug. Abusers of other drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, often take GHB to reduce the withdrawal... 

Roofies, Rophies, Ruffies, Roche, Roach, Rope, Ropies, Rib, Circles, Mexican Valium, R-2, Date Rape Pill, Forget-Me Pill. 

Ketamine has a variety of properties and produces a number of effects that make it an increasingly popular date rape drug. These properties and effects are as follows ... 

Information about GHB, the effects of the chemical, and date rape, as well as personal accounts. 

One of the greatest concerns related to the use of Rohypnol has been its potential as a date rape drug. When mixed with alcohol, its effects are substantially amplified, significantly decreasing a person s ability to evaluate and resist aggressive actions by another person. Although the problem of date rape involving Rohypnol has been extensively discussed in recent years, reliable data on its actual extent have been difficult to obtain. 

Figure 1.2 In the photograph above. Dr. Jo Ellen Dyer, a pharmacist and toxicologist who specializes in GHB and sexual assault, serves as an expert witness at the rape trial of Max Factor heir, Andrew Luster. In 2003, Luster was convicted of raping a series of women after he used GHB, a "date rape" drug, to seduce his victims.

Trade names of some benzodiazepines are Ativan (lorazepam), Dalmane (flurazepam), Halcion (triazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam). Librium (chlordiazepoxide), Restoril (temazepam), Serax (oxazepam). Valium (diazepam). Versed (midazolam), and Xanax (alprazolam). Some street names include benzos, downers, and goofballs. The date rape drug Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) has its own group of names, including forget-me pill, Mexican valium, mind erasers, R2, roches, roofies, rope, and rophies (Figure 7.2). Except for Rohypnol , which cannot be sold in the United States, the benzodiazepines are listed as Schedule IV drugs. 

Figure 7.2 Photographed above is a box of Rohypnol tranquillizer pills, powerful sedatives normally prescribed as sleeping pills for insomniacs, which have unfortunately gained notoriety as a "date rape" drug. Rohypnol causes sleepiness and memory loss when dissolved in an alcoholic drink therefore, a blue dye has been added to the pills to prevent this from occurring unnoticed. 

Chloral hydrate, glutethimide, and methaqualone also produce a depressant effect. Chloral hydrate is dangerous to use as an anesthetic, but it has been used to treat persons undergoing withdrawal from heroin, GHB, and alcohol. A mixture of chloral hydrate and alcohol is termed a Mickey Finn and has been used as a date rape drug. 

The benzodiazepine Rohypnol has a rapid onset of action and has been used as a date rape drug. The victim will have no memory of any events that occurred while under the influence of the drug. The effects begin in about 20 to 30 minutes and peak in about two hours. 

Calvin Stevens developed ketamine while working at Parke-Davis in 1961. It is used as a veterinary and human anesthetic, and is a Schedule 111 drug. It was widely used as a field anesthetic in the Vietnam War, and it entered the rave scene in the early 1990s. Ketamine has been used as a date rape drug. Street names include baby food, cat Valium, honey oil, jet, K, keets, ket, special K, super acid, super C, and vitamin K (Figure 10.1). Trade names are Ketalar , Ketajet , and Ketaset . 

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