Are Date Rape Drugs Still a Threat?

Sexual assaults facilitated by drugs placed in drinks are more common than ever, requiring both women and men to maintain vigilance while at parties and bars.

Are women still being drugged to facilitate sexual assaults? Do a quick online search for news on this topic, and you’ll see—it’s happening all too often in far too many places.

A very brief search of news sources turns up reports from all these cities:

• Barnstable, MA
• West Pittston, PA
• Crown Point, IN
• Louisville, KY
• Albuquerque, NM

The following campuses are also mentioned:

• University of North Carolina
• San Diego State University
• Texas A&M
• Cornell University

Reports from all these locations came from 2022, and many more are available.

Men and Women Both Must Use Caution

Women need to be aware of the potential danger and threat of date rape drugs. Of course, men also fall victim to this malicious tactic. Reports of male drugging incidents that are followed by rape come from Los Angeles and the University of Michigan, but these occurrences are not as frequent or numerous.

The truth is that both genders must protect themselves from this threat by being smart and alert when they are out on the town.

Which Drugs Are Being Used in Sexual Assaults?

The primary drugs used for these covert assaults are:

• Rohypnol (flunitrazepam): Rohypnol is a prescription drug that is not sold in the U.S. It can be purchased over the counter in Mexico. It can cause loss of consciousness and memory of what happened while the person was drugged. It can also cause nausea and loss of muscle control. Rohypnol pills are often called “roofies”; in fact, being drugged and date raped is often referred to as “being roofied.”

• Ketamine: This drug is used as an anesthetic in veterinary medicine and occasionally in human medicine. It is also a popular drug of abuse. It can cause hallucinations or loss of consciousness and coordination. The victim also often loses a sense of time or of their own identity. Ketamine can also cause respiratory failure which can be fatal.

• GHB (gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid): This is another popular drug of abuse. Brand-named Xyrem, it is also a prescription drug used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness or cataplexy, a condition that causes sudden muscle weakness and collapse. In the context of these sexual assaults, GHB may cause drowsiness, dizziness, loss of consciousness, inability to remember what happened while drugged, coma, or death.

• GBL (gamma-Butyrolactone): This drug is used in the manufacture of GHB, but it can also be used for date rape. It can have the same effects as GHB.

While these are the most common drugs, a drug like MDMA (ecstasy, Molly), a benzodiazepine such as Versed or Ativan, or other drugs could be used to incapacitate a person and impair their memory. Of course, even high doses of alcohol can have similar effects.

The common date rape drugs are typically tasteless and colorless, except for GBL, which can be bitter. Used in a strong-tasting drink, however, it could also be overlooked.

Date Rape Tactics

A review of several news reports reveals the tactics used to facilitate these sexual assaults.

1. Barnstable, MA police warned the public that modified vaping devices might be used to deliver drugs capable of incapacitating a victim.¹

2. In West Pittston, a man gave two girls—aged 14 and 15—Molly, a type of ecstasy, and then pressured them to engage in sexual activity. The older girl became so intoxicated she was unable to consent to any sexual acts.²

3. In the Crown Point, IN incident, a woman attended a party at a club and became ill after consuming a drink she had left with a girlfriend. A man offered to give her a ride home, but she was taken to his residence instead, where he forced more drugs on her and sexually assaulted her.³

4. At the University of North Carolina, two people reported having been drugged at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house. One individual later reported that they were also physically assaulted. The gender of the victims was not reported.⁴

5. A surveillance video in Boston revealed that after a man and woman met in a bar, the man retrieved a substance from his pants pocket and sprinkled it in her drink. The woman accompanied him to his room but was not conscious during a brutal sexual assault.[^5]

6. Cornell University police reported that four women notified them about being drugged at parties, prompting the Interfraternity Council to suspend all parties at fraternities around the campus. These four students reported becoming incapacitated after drinking very little at parties at the same fraternity house.⁵

Preventing Date Rapes

With appropriate caution, it is possible for both women and men to avoid becoming a victim of date rape. Since women are particularly vulnerable to these attacks, they will have to forego any temptation to relax their vigilance while out alone or with friends. But men should also take the same common-sense precautions. You would do your friends a great service if you were to share these guidelines with them, particularly those who frequent nightclubs, bars, or parties. In today’s environment, these are essential skills.

Vital guidelines for the prevention of date rape:

• Control all beverages when out with other people.

• Don’t accept a drink from someone who is not known or trusted.

• Never leave a drink unattended or share or trade drinks.

• Watch while drinks are being prepared.

• If a drink has been unattended, discard it immediately.

• Discard any drink with an unusual taste or appearance, such as foam on the top of the drink, odd residue, or texture.

• Refuse drinks from punchbowls.

• At parties, never accept a drink from a bottle or can that someone else has opened.

• Always limit alcohol consumption to remain in control of decisions and actions.

• Have an agreement with friends to look out for each other.

• Anyone who feels that someone is encroaching on their physical space and making them uncomfortable should leave the party, bar, or restaurant or ask staff or friends for help immediately. That is far safer than just going along to “keep things pleasant.”

• Call attention to any suspicious actions, such as a man escorting an incapacitated woman out of a bar, restaurant, or fraternity party. Get help.

You may have friends who still feel that the only excitement in their life comes from hours spent in nightclubs or bars. Or perhaps you are a parent, teacher, or counselor who wishes to protect the teens and young adults in your charge. A little education on danger signs to look for can go a long way to preventing the trauma of a drugged assault.

On college campuses and in college towns, it is unfortunately still an accepted practice to “get trashed” at parties, whether on or off campus. These young women and men are in danger every time they yield their sobriety. Perhaps the examples above can enable you to convince those who are most at risk to protect their happiness and health by using greater caution.

Drink Test Kits Available

There are also test kits available to check a drink for the presence of the most common date rape drugs. These can be found online. However, if a person properly guards their drink, these won’t be needed. Any of these test kits will only test for a limited number of drugs—something else to keep in mind.

Parties and bars have historically been places that individuals have gone to “let down their hair” and relax but in today’s landscape and with the easy availability of date rape drugs, this is no longer possible. It is vital to be alert to one’s own safety and the safety of friends, acquaintances and, in fact, anyone in the environment who may be vulnerable to assault.

Promote Sobriety

While it may be “popular” or “accepted” to spend a night on the town and drink to excess, enjoying life sober is a growing trend—witness the “sober curious” movement. It’s important to warn others, especially younger females, about the dangers of date rape drugs, but you can also remove that danger entirely by promoting a sober lifestyle and, instead of drinking, engaging in activities in worthwhile and creative activities without alcohol.

Sources:

Karen

After a few years working at the Narconon center in Oklahoma, Karen has been researching drug trends around the world and writing reports and articles on addiction and recovery for nine years.
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