What is Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault?

Drug-facilitated sexual assault occurs when drugs are used by an assailant to lower a victim’s resistance to the assault. After such an assault, a victim may often be woozy, disoriented, and uncertain of the events s/he has experienced. Alcohol and other drugs (including “Date Rape Drugs”) are used in drug-facilitated sexual assault.

What are “Date Rape Drugs”?

Rohypnol, GHB, and Ketamine, are examples of illegal drugs whose effects include memory loss, blackouts, visual disturbances, dizziness, and general confusion. They are known as "date rape drugs" although they can be used to facilitate a sexual assault whether the situation is a date or not. Assailants place these odorless, tasteless and colorless drugs in their victims' drinks in order to incapacitate them so they will not be able to resist the assault. Many victims wake up with no memory of the attack or events leading up to it.

Common Drugs Used In Sexual Assault

Rohypnol:

Rohypnol (the brand name of flunitrazepam) is commonly referred to as Rufies. Rohypnol has been called a “date rape drug” because of its use in sexual assaults. Rohypnol usually takes effect within 15-30 minutes after ingestion and can last from 4-72 hours.

Effects include a drunken appearance (drowsiness, light-headedness, dizziness), fatigue, memory loss, slurred speech, lack of motor coordination, amnesia, impaired judgment and coma. The effects of Rohypnol are intensified when the drug is mixed with alcohol.

Street Names for Rohypnol:

Ruffies, Roches, Roofies, Forget Pill, R-2s, Wolfies, Roofenol, Roach, Ruffles

GHB:

Gamma Hydroxybutyrate is a clear liquid, but it may also come in a white grainy powder. It is a central nervous system depressant. GHB has similar effects to those of Rohypnol; dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, inebriation, stupor. It is also absorbed as quickly as Rohypnol.

Street Names for GHB:

Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid X, Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid E, Easy Lay, Vita-G, G-juice, Georgia Home Boy, Energy Drink

 Other Drugs:

There are several other substances used to facilitate sexual assault. Although not as widely used as Rohypnol and GHB, they are still weapons used to render victims helpless. Some of these substances are Ketamine, Clonazepam, Scopalamine, and Foxy.

Warning signs that you may have been drugged:

Victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault awaken with no memory of the events of the previous night. Often they wonder how it was that they were able to get so drunk off one or two drinks. It is not uncommon for the victim to know she had sex but to not remember any of the details. This is one of the signs that someone could have given the victim a date rape drug.   

• If you recall drinking or having a drink, but cannot recall what happened for a period of time after consuming a drink.

• If you suspect that sexual contact has taken place, but cannot remember any or all of the incident.

• If you feel more intoxicated than you usually do after drinking an amount of alcohol you are used to consuming.

• If you wake up feeling hung over and/or experience a memory lapse or cannot account for periods of time.

  It is possible that you could be a victim of a Drug Facilitated Assault.

  What to do if you suspect you have been a victim of a drug facilitated sexual assault

  It is important to be tested to confirm the use of drug. Blood can be tested up to 24 hours and urine up to 96 hours following ingestion however every minute the drug is in your system is valuable time lost. Get tested immediately if possible.

  • Get to a safe place. Ask a trusted friend to stay with you and assist you in getting help.
  • Call law enforcement.
  • Seek medical help immediately.
  • Describe any and all symptoms fully to your physician or nurse.
  • Tell the physician or nurse that you may have been drugged. It is imperative that you be tested as soon as possible for the drug's presence in your body, as most of these substances can only be detected for a short period of time after ingestion.
  • Try not to urinate prior to providing urine samples, as trace amounts of these drugs may remain in your system for up to 96 hours.
  •  If possible, find cups or glasses from which you drank and submit these to the police for laboratory testing.

  Also contact your local hotline to ask advice on how to proceed or to have increased support in dealing with your assault.

 You can protect yourself by:

•  Not accepting drinks (alcoholic or nonalcoholic) from someone you do not know. A good rule of thumb is to get drinks yourself.

• Not drinking from a punch bowl or any type of open container.

• Always keeping an eye on your drink. Don't put the drink down and leave it, even to go to the bathroom or to greet a friend on the other side of the room. If you are at a crowded bar, you can even ask for a lid for your drink.

• Paying attention to the taste and color of your drink. If it tastes salty, becomes flat, or appears discolored, throw it out, as these can be signs of GHB or Rohypnol.

• Being suspicious of eyedroppers, mouthwash bottles, and bubble solutions as they are often used to transport GHB.

• Looking out for your friends. If your friend appears disproportionately drunk for the amount of alcohol she or he has consumed, pay special attention to their behavior and do not let him or her wander off.

• Telling your friends where you are going and with whom.

One drug most women don’t think about is alcohol. Although alcohol is a legal substance it can be equally dangerous when used in excess and in the wrong environment. Many times rapists look for a victim who is too inebriated to be able to fight them off. Alcohol impairs judgment and creates and risky environment for men and women.

Top Ten Facts about Sexual Assault and Alcohol

1. An incapacitated person does not forfeit his/her rights. Many state laws recognize that when someone is drunk, she or he is unable to give consent. If you have sex with someone who is passed out or incapable of giving consent, it will be considered SEXUAL ASSAULT.

2. Sexual assault is a crime of violence: Alcohol never justifies violent, criminal behavior. Intoxication can never be used as a defense for someone who commits a sexual assault.

3. Alcohol use at the time of the attack was found to be one of the four strongest predictors of a college woman being raped. (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology)

4. Under the influence of alcohol, men are more likely to interpret a woman's smile, laughter, clothes, or body language as evidence that she wants to have sex.

5. Alcohol slows reflexes and can impair the victim's ability to recognize a potentially dangerous situation.

6. Alcohol impairs judgment and lowers inhibitions, making some people more likely to force sex on an unwilling partner.

7. Alcohol use can contribute to an atmosphere where anything goes, including rape by individuals or groups of men.

8. 47% of college women who were raped believe they were unable to effectively resist as a result of their own alcohol use. (State Council of Higher Education for Virginia)

9. Men are more likely than women to assume that a woman who drinks alcohol on a date is a willing sex partner. 40% of men who think this way also believe it is acceptable to force sex on an intoxicated woman. (Journal of American College Health)

10. At least 80% of college students who had unwanted sex were under the influence of alcohol. (Core Institute, University of Southern Illinois)