BITTER PILL

Saying no to sex and drugs is fine. But what if you have no choice?
Julia Price and Nikki Cryer report...

AS Valentine's Day approaches, REACH (Rape, Examination,Advice,Help) are campaigning to raise awareness of students to drug assisted rape. Every year women and men fall victim to date rape or sexual assaults. Although some cases have been brought to light, it is the most common under reported form of rape. In many cases, the victim knows, and even trusts, the attacker. More alarmingly, many people don't even know that they have been raped.

The first reported cases of drug-assisted rape was in Europe in the late 70s. At the time, police didn't take the matter seriously, as many cases could not be proven. The problem is that the drug leaves the victim's blood system soon after the indcient, leaving no trace of it ever being there. As more cases began to be reported worldwide the realisation of the problem soon became clear.

The date rape drug, as named in Britain, looks deceptively like an aspirin, but its strong sedative nature leaves victims confused and disoriented with long spells of black-outs, making them an easy target for rape. In most reported cases the drug has been slipped into peoples' drinks at either parties or in clubs, while they are not looking. When mixed with alcohol the tablet increases in strength leaving the victim unable to control their actions and vulnerable to sexual attack.

The most common type of drug used is Rohypnol or 'roofie' (its street name). It is actually a form of sleeping tablet in the same class as Valium, and Librium, available over the counter for about £1 a tablet. It is usually prescribed for back pains or insomnia by most doctors and, when used for the right reasons, can be a useful drug.

Problems start when its sold on the black market and falls into the wrong hands proving to be lethal. Eight times stronger than any normal sleeping tablet, it becomes three times more potent when mixed with alcohol. The deadly sting of the drug is like a knock out punch leaving the victim unconscious and unaware of what is going on around them.

Simon Crummack was given the drug during dental treatment. He spoke to Degrees North about his experience. He was given the drug in an injection form to calm him down during a routine dental operation. Simon recalls that shortly after the injection he was knocked out for about three hours, his memory was lost and he felt disoriented for about twenty-four hours. "

All I can remember is waking up on the couch at home, apparently I'd had conversations with my wife on the way back, but I have no recollection of this. In fact I don't remember anything."

Rohypnol is a white tablet with the letters 'ROCHE' engraved on to the side of it. When mixed with alcohol there is no trace, taste or odour, so you don't even realize that it's been spiked. It takes about twenty minutes to kick in and by that time it is too late. The drug's effects are dizziness, disorientation, hot and cold flushes, nausea and trouble speaking and moving, leading up to passing out.

Often, if you've been drinking heavily, it's easy to mistake the symptoms with being drunk. This is where the danger lies, being vulnerable and not realising that there is a problem. The black out can last anything from eight hours to twenty-four hours, during which time the whole experience is pure confusion and, often afterwards, most victims have no recollection of what happened.

Click Here For Page 2