What Are Date Rape Drugs and How to Avoid Them?

Date rape drugs are any drugs that are used to reduce your awareness and make you more susceptible to the rape that follows. These drugs are commonly used at parties, and at bars and clubs, but can be found anywhere. If you suspect you have been given a date rape drug, you should contact one of the affordable treatment centers in your area that can help you learn what to do next.

Common Date Rape Drugs

There are three drugs that are most commonly referred to as date rape drugs. Ketamine, GHB, and Rohypnol are the most common and go by different names.

• Ketamine is also known as Special K. It is used for its dissociative anesthetic properties, making the victim detach from their surroundings and, sometimes, hallucinate. Its effects last roughly an hour.
• GHB, also known as goop or cherry meth, can depress the central nervous system within 15 minutes and last up to 6 hours. It can also result in death or a coma.
• Rohypnol, one of the most commonly known date rape drugs is also referred to as roofies. It is illegal in the U.S., but has similar properties as Xanax. Its effects start within 30 minutes and can last for hours.

Unless the manufacturers adjust the original recipe, none of these drugs have any color, taste, or odor, and can also be addictive.

Avoiding Vulnerability

The whole point of these drugs is to make you more vulnerable, which is something alcohol already does. You can avoid them by making sure that you always make your own drinks and food, and take whatever you might ingest with you wherever you go, even to the bathroom. Stay close to your friends, but don’t rely on them to watch your drink.

It only takes a second for someone to glance away and give a predator a chance to slip xanax into your drink or roofies. It’s also a good idea to avoid alcohol, and/or set limits and predetermine a time to leave with a sober driver. This way, you are never alone with someone who might hurt you.

Whether you ingest alcohol or a date rape drug, rape is still rape, and it says something about the predator, not you. If you suspect you have been given a date rape drug, contact the authorities immediately, as well as one of the local affordable treatment centers, to learn about interactions and withdrawal.