Everything you should know about the rape pill

Rape is a horrific crime that, unfortunately, many women become a victim of. According to statistics, over 35% of women around the world have experienced some form of sexual harassment in their lifetime. When we talk about rape, we have to talk about date rape drugs. Shockingly young male adults (teens to mid-30s) are the primary users of these drugs. These drugs are used to tamper with the victim’s drink and intoxicate them to impair their judgment, making it easier for the perpetrator to commit the rape or abuse. One of the most common date rape drugs is the date rape pill (aka roofie or Rohypnol).

Let’s dive deeper into the world of date rape drugs and tell you everything you need to know about Rohypnol and other date rape pills.

What Are Date Rape Drugs?

Date rape drugs are substances that make it easier for someone to rape or sexually assault another person. These drugs affect the victim very quickly and cause them to become very weak, confused, and even pass out sometimes. In the majority of cases, these victims do not even remember what happened to them while they were drugged or who the assailant was. In severe cases, these date rape drugs may also cause seizures in the victim and sometimes even death.

The drugs are usually odorless and colorless and can easily be slipped into someone's drink, making them undetectable to the victim. These drugs are particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol as well. Statistics show us that 90% of all campus rapes happen when alcohol has been used either by the assailant or the victim.

Some common types of date rape drugs include:

• GHB, which is also commonly known as gamma-hydroxybutyric acid
• Rohypnol which is benzodiazepines
• Ketamine
• MDMA, which is methylenedioxymethamphetamine
• Alcohol

Date rape drugs also include any other drugs, like marijuana, cocaine, antidepressant drugs, tranquilizers, or sleeping pills, that can overpower a victim or make them not remember an assault.

Now let’s explore some of the most commonly used date rape drugs a little more closely.

Rohypnol: The Most Popular Date Rape Pill

Rohypnol is most commonly known as flunitrazepam. This drug is a strong benzodiazepine which is a class of tranquilizers and is known by many street names. Some of the names of Rohypnol are Mexican Valium, circles, roofies, la Rocha, Rocha, R2, wolfies, lunch money drug, and forget me pill.

Even though roofies are banned in many countries, the drug is still commonly available. It is the most popular drug used for crimes such as rape. The drug used to come as a white tablet that did not have a smell or taste. However, now drug companies are making it a light green pill with a blue core, so if someone puts it in a clear drink, the liquid turns blue, alerting the victim that they may be getting drugged.

This drug causes the victim to feel intoxicated and experience slurred speech, impaired judgment, and difficulty walking. The effects of roofie are often felt within 10 minutes and can last up to 8 hours. Rohypnol can also cause deep sedation, respiratory distress, and blackouts which can last up to 24 hours.

How The Date Rape Pill Works?

The perpetrator dissolves the pill in the drink and waits for you to drink it. Once you ingest the substance through the mouth, it is digested and absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. It is further processed in the liver and carried to the brain and the rest of the body through the circulatory system. Most of the absorptions occur within 5 to 30 minutes of ingestion.

The molecular structure of roofies is similar to that of neurotransmitters and takes on the action of the naturally occurring gamma amino butyric acid, which stimulates sedation, relaxation, drowsiness, and depression. Combined with alcohol, the drug has an additive or synergistic effect, producing a greater effect.

Other Common Date Rape Drugs

Besides Rohypnol or roofies, a few other commonly used date rape drugs exist. Here are the most common date rape drugs used by rapists:

1. GHB

GHB, also commonly known as gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, has many street names, including easy lay, Georgia, Georgia homeboy, liquid eggs, liquid ecstasy, liquid G, goop, grievous bodily harm, gib, geographic scoop, soap, salty water, cherry meth, and fantasy.

GHB is on the rise. Though it is still being used, date rape pill or roofy is hard to find. Therefore, these days, the drugs being slipped into your glass of bubbly are mainly GHB. It is being used as a very common date rape drug nowadays.

GHB is usually used in its liquid form so that it can be easily mixed with other liquids. it may also come in its powdered form, and neither form has any smell or taste. GHB produces drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, unconsciousness, seizures, severe respiratory depression, and even a coma in some of its victims. An overdose of GHB can occur quickly and can also be fatal.

2. Ketamine

Ketamine is also known as Special K, cat Valium, or Kit Kat. It is another common drug that is used at many parties, raves, and nightclubs. As a powder, the drug is easily smoked or snorted, but as a readily available clear liquid, it is often slipped unnoticed into drinks. The drug is highly versatile and may also be injected or swallowed in a pill form too.

Ketamine usually tastes bitter and unpleasant, so there's a higher chance of the victim realizing their drink has been spiked in a potential date rape situation. The drug causes the victim to feel dreamlike and detached, relaxed, happy, confused, nauseated, and have limited awareness of their surrounding environment. A very high dose of the drug may also cause respiratory depression, apnea, and even death.

3. MDMA

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is commonly known as ecstasy. Ecstasy has many street names like XME, XTC, rolls, beans, clarity, Adam, lover speed, and hug drug. MDMA is usually sold as small tablets of variable colors imprinted with popular icons or words. It also comes in powdered form. The pills are usually swallowed, and the powdered form is usually rubbed or dabbed into the user’s gums. They both taste bitter and unpleasant.

The effects of MDMA on victims include impaired judgment, a false sense of affection, confusion, depression, psychosis, and even convulsions and death in some individuals.

4. Alcohol

Experts say alcohol is used much more often used as a date rape drug than other drugs. This is because the social acceptance and accessibility of alcohol seem to reduce its recognition as a potential date rape drug.

Consuming alcohol leads to poor judgment, trouble concentrating, loss of coordination, loss of critical judgment, and even passing out. So, if you feel too drunk, it is better to head back home than leave the club with a stranger. Remember, your safety comes first. If you see a drunken friend leaving with a stranger, always check up on them to ensure their safety.

5. Other Drugs

Several classes of non-narcotic drugs have also come into extensive use as sleeping aids, sedative-hypnotics, energizers, mood elevators, stimulants, and tranquilizers, which can also be used as a potential date rape drug. Barbiturates, cocaine, amphetamines, tranquilizers, cannabis, opiates, and sleeping pills are also commonly used to facilitate date rape. They have sedative-hypnotic effects that can cause the user to lose inhibitions, be more submissive and ultimately lose consciousness.

Can You Detect Date Rape Drugs?

There has been a constant struggle to introduce innovative and effective ways to detect rape drugs to prevent a potential rape situation. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could tell whether your drink is spiked or not? Well, now you can.

Here are two ingenious ways for women to keep themselves from date rape drugs.

1. Nail Polish

In 2014, a group of North Carolina State University students created a revolutionary nail polish called ‘Undercover Colors”. This nail polish changes colors when exposed to date rape drugs. Nowadays, you can find many such nail polishes. Women wearing nail polish just need to stir their drink with their fingers. If drugs are present, the nail polish changes color. Such nail polishes are formulated to detect common date rape pills, including Rohypnol, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, and ecstasy. So, by simply painting your nails, you can protect yourself.

2. Straw

Yes, like nail polishes, there are now straws that change color if a date rape drug is present in your drink. In 2017, three high schoolers at Gulliver Preparatory School designed a date rape drug-detecting straw. These straws change color when in contact with common date rape. Who knew that straws could prevent drug-facilitated sexual crimes?

How Can You Avoid Date Rape Drugs?

As girls, we are told to watch our backs and, most importantly, our drinks. This is the dark reality of being a woman, knowing that danger is always lurking. Here are a few tips that can help you stay safe when you are out and about:

1. Pour Your Own Drinks

Here’s a harsh truth: You can’t trust anyone. When you’re out in the club, at a party, or even at a friend's house for a game night, pour your own drinks. Don’t let anyone get you a drink, as you never know what’s in it.

2. Avoid Open Containers

Avoid drinking from any kind of open container, cooler, or pitcher, such as a punch bowl, as they could be spiked. Many times these drinks are tampered with. So, make sure you avoid those. Just get something from the bar instead.

3. Don't Accept Drinks From Others

Never accept a drink from strangers. I know it's cute when a guy buys you a drink but don’t be fooled by that. That is the most common trick perpetrators use to lure their prey. Buy your own drink or get a trusted friend, but NEVER let a random guy get you a drink.

4. Don’t Leave Your Drink Unattended

Keep control of your drink at all times, and carry it around yourself even if you must take it to the bathroom. Leaving around your drink is highly unsafe. If you can’t carry it with you, ask a friend to watch it and watch your friends’ drinks too.

5. Don’t Drink Anything That Tastes Weird

This one is a no-brainer. But many times, girls end up chugging down a drink, even if it tastes weird. Do not do that. You should never drink anything that tastes strange or weird, as it is a clear indicator that the drink is spiked. If the taste is off, get another drink.

6. Stay Close To Friends

Stick closely with your friends and always inform them where you are and who you are with. At the same time, if you catch your friend moving to a corner or any other secluded place for privacy, always ask them where they are going. You and your friends need to be aware of each other's locations.

7. Trust Your Gut

A woman’s instinct is never wrong. Trust your instinct if you feel uncomfortable leaving, if you feel like you are in a dangerous situation, or if you are being pressured. You’re probably right and need to respond to your gut feeling, so ensure you keep yourself safe. You never know when the potential date rape situation will arrive. It can happen to anyone, anytime. So, stay woke!

Wrapping Up

Stats show a significant rise in sexual abuse, assault, and harassment cases across the globe. The surge in sexual violence and sexual crimes is especially alarming for women because 91% of victims of sexual crimes are women.

The perpetrators use date rape pills and other drugs to incapacitate the victim. These drugs make it hard for the victim to defend themselves and retaliate. The most commonly used date rape drugs are GHB, Roofy, ecstasy, and alcohol.

So, how do you stay safe? Protecting yourself and avoiding spiked drinks is the only way to prevent date rape. Detecting a spiked drink is not easy, but you can follow the tips mentioned above to prevent getting drugged.