How can you protect yourself?
- Don't go out by yourself; go with a group of friends instead. You can also designate a "check-in person" in your group of friends. This person agrees to keep an eye out for everyone, makes sure everyone is checking in and knows where you are at all times. This person could also be your designated driver for the evening.
- Don't leave your drink alone. Always take it with you.
- At a bar or club, accept drinks only from the bartender, waiter or waitress.
- Don't accept any drinks from anyone you don't know well unless you actually see that person buy it.
- If someone offers to buy you a drink, go with them to the bar and watch the bartender make your drink.
- Don't drink anything out of a punch bowl.
- If a drink looks or smells different don't drink it.
- Avoid cranberry drinks since the cranberry taste can hide the taste or smell of some drugs.
What should you do?
If a drink looks or smells different, don't drink it. If you drink something and then start to feel weird or experience any of the symptoms above, talk to a friend about what's happening and get medical help right away. Some of these drugs can lead to serious medical complications when they're mixed with alcohol.
Also, keep a close eye on the behaviour of friends who seem drunker than they should be for the amount of alcohol they've been drinking. They may have been drugged. Then help them get medical attention.
If you see health professionals quickly enough, they can do tests to see if there are any of these drugs in your body. But some of these drugs are absorbed very quickly and within
8 to 12 hours, they can be hard to detect in the body.
If you think that you may have
been sexually assaulted while drugged:
- Go to a hospital, a doctor, nurse or sexual assault centre, even if you don't remember much.
- Talk to a friend or someone you trust.
- Consider calling the police.
How can I tell if I was given
a date rape drug?
Date rape drugs are drugs that are put in your drink without your knowledge that change the way you act and can make you forget long periods of time. These drugs make it easier for someone to sexually assault you. The drugs work the same in both alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks. It's hard to tell if a drug has been put in your drink.
There are different rape drugs
that are used:
- rohypnol, also called 'Roofies', 'Rope' or 'Forget-pill'
- gamma hydroxy butyrate, also called 'GHB', 'Liquid Ecstasy', 'Liquid X' and 'Easy Lay'
- ketamine, also called 'Special K', 'Vitamin K' or 'Ket'.
If you drink from a drugged drink
you may:
- feel sleepy and relaxed
- feel really drunk, outgoing or sensual
- feel out of control
- pass out and wake up in a different place hours later and have no memory of what happened.
For more information:
Date Rape Drugs - Calgary Health Region
Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres
Date Rape Drugs - University of Calgary. Sexual Harassment Office
Just the facts: GHB - Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC)
