Juliet Thomas Christian Articles for Young Women
She told her parents that she would be out for the weekend at a resort. The girls looked forward to a gala time. During dinner, the group of girls had a good time, exchanging jokes and gossip. There was also a group of boys and girls with whom they began to talk and socialise. But, as the night advanced, and as Archana’s head began to spin, she knew that something was wrong. She woke up back in her room, in a dishevelled condition. She had bruises on her body. Her friends were also in the room, and they too were in the same state of shock.
To all onlookers, there seemed nothing wrong when the boys took the girls back to their rooms. The girls looked obviously drunk. And since they had been laughing and joking with the boys and girls, they appeared to be in the same group.
In a panic the girls decided to keep quiet and not tell anyone about what had happened. There seemed to be a lot of shame. The group of boys had also disappeared. It took Drug the whole of the next day for the girls to completely recover. They made a pact with each other to keep silent about this incident, for the social stigma of knowing they had been raped was overwhelming. Exchanging notes, they realised that they had been drugged, taken back to their room, and raped. The resort employees probably knew what had happened. But the girls would never know for sure.
Archana began to read about drugs and realised to her horror that she and her friends had been victims of the date-rape drug. The girls decided that they would begin to speak to their friends about the dangers of late-night partying without known male escorts. They had realized that there was great danger in socialising with strangers (women included) and drinking with them.
While Archana and her friends lived with the trauma of realising that their bodies had been assaulted without their knowledge, they were lucky to be alive. It took a long time for them to recover.
HERE ARE SOME FACTS EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW. KNOWLEDGE CAN ALWAYS PROTECT YOU FROM A SIMILAR PITFALL.
ALCOHOL is still the number one date-rape drug.
Effects on victims Getting drunk causes victims to be helpless, get blackouts and have a loss of muscular coordination. Sedatives, tranquillisers and hallucinogenic drugs, have been misused for crimes, ranging from robberies to rapes, in India and all over the world. Drugs have often been offered in trains to passengers as food, with victims waking up to realise they have been robbed. The railways have signs to dissuade passengers taking food from strangers.
WHAT ARE DATE-RAPE DRUGS?
There are at least three date-rape drugs known internationally: GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid), Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam) and Ketamine (Ketamine Hydrochloride). They are also called club drugs.
GHB (GAMMA HYDROXYBUTYRIC ACID) Street names for GHB include Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid G, Liquid Ecstasy, Somatomax, Cherry Meth, Easy Lay and Gamma 10.
Effects on victims Drowsiness, dizziness, slow heart rate, nausea, inability to remember what happened, seizures, coma, death
ROHYPNOL: (FLUNITRAZEPAM )
Street names include Roofies, R2, Roofenol, Roche, Roachies, La Rocha, Rope, Rib, Circles, Mexican Valium, Roach-2, Roopies, Ropies, Forget Pill, Trip-and-Fall and Mind Erasers.
Effects on victims Amnesia, excitability or aggressive behavior, lack of inhibition, decreased blood pressure, memory impairment
KETAMINE
Street names include Special K, Ket and K, Vitamin K, Kit Kat, Keller, Cat Valium, Purple and Super C.
Effects on victims Hallucinations, disorientation to time and place and of oneself, convulsions, loss of consciousness, loss of coordination, respiratory failure
Reasons why date-rape drugs are dangerous
There are a number of reasons why these drugs are used for rape and robbery.
The drugs are tasteless, odourless and colourless and can be easily slipped into food or drinks. So the victims will not know that they have been drugged.
They are fast acting. The victims are either unconscious or lack coordination, so is unable to defend themselves. Victims often act without inhibition and are unable to remember what happened.
All traces of the drugs leave the body within 72 hours. Unless the doctor specifically looks for them, they cannot be traced in routine tests .
These are a few simple tips to safeguard yourself and your loved ones when you are among strangers: at a picnic, on a date, at a hotel or bar or a friend’s party or even at college or work.
While travelling by train or bus, never accept a drink from someone you don’t know very well, unless it is opened in front of you.
Avoid leaving half-used bottles unattended. Carry your drink with you. If you need to go to the restroom, give it to a trusted friend or discard it.
In public places, when you have a minor with you, go with them to the restroom. In public places, especially when travelling by bus for long distances, it is preferable to go to restroom in a group or with a friend.
When going to a party, go with a group of trusted friends. Don’t accept a party invitation from someone you don’t know well. Don’t go on a blind date.
At a party, ensure the bartender pours or mixes the drinks in front of you. Watch the amount of alcohol you consume.
If your drink has a bluish tinge, please don’t drink it – it might be drugged. The Pharmaceutical companies have voluntarily added an agent so that it can be detected.
Be aware of the effects of drugs. If someone in your group behaves strangely, or shows signs of seizures, seek immediate medical attention and notify the authorities.Inform all the women present.
If you suspect either you or a friend in your group has been drugged, go immediately to the hospital. Try not to pass urine as the urine sample is important for testing. Get emotional support by meeting a counsellor.
Wait before you drive etc. The effects of the drugs usually last for more than 24hours and some of them stay in your system for up to 72hours, especially if mixed with alcohol.
TAKE CARE! BE ON YOUR GUARD!
– Joyce Premila
