Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault Central Washington University Department of Public Safety and Police Services

What is drug-facilitated rape? Sexual assault that occurs when the victim is purposely incapacitated when one of several substances is introduced into her bloodstream, usually dropped into a drink by the rapist Sexual assault that occurs when the victim is purposely incapacitated when one of several substances is introduced into her bloodstream, usually dropped into a drink by the rapist

How does it happen?  Usually at a social event, party or club  Someone secretly drops a drug like Rohypnol or GB in the victim’s drink  Victim becomes affected by the drug and is incapacitated, unable to move, or left in a weakened or unconscious state  Victim cannot escape or resist, and may not remember the details of the attack due to an amnesiac state associated with the drugs

“My girlfriend started to stumble around. I thought she was just really drunk. I found out later that some guy had slipped a couple of ruffies into her drink.” “My girlfriend started to stumble around. I thought she was just really drunk. I found out later that some guy had slipped a couple of ruffies into her drink.”

Then and Now  You may have heard the terms “spiking the punch” or “slipping her a Mickey”  These drugs are especially dangerous  Can be lethal when mixed with alcohol or other drugs

What is Rohypnol?  Brand name for the drug flunitrazepam, a benzodiazepine drug  Same family as drugs like Valium and Xanax  Unlike Valium and Xanax, Rohypnol has never been approved for medical use within the United States  Illegal to manufacture, distribute or possess Rohypnol in the United States

What are the effects of Rohypnol?  Rohypnol is a potent and fast-acting sedative  Effects noticeable within minutes after ingestion  Causes drowsiness, confusion, impaired motor skills, dizziness, disinhibition, impaired judgment and reduced levels of consciousness

Effects of Rohypnol  Victim may resemble someone who is drunk  May slur words or have difficulty walking  May be completely unconscious

Other Dangers of Rohypnol  Extremely dangerous to mix Rohypnol with alcohol or other drugs  Combination may produce extremely low blood pressure, respiratory depression, difficulty breathing, coma or even death

Other Dangers of Rohypnol  Most disturbing effects of Rohypnol is that it cam produce complete or partial amnesia (loss of memory)  Victim may not be able to remember his or her actions, or the actions of someone else, while under the influence of this drug  Amnesiac effect especially likely when Rohypnol is ingested with alcohol

What does Rohypnol look like?  Most commonly found in a tablet form  Usually smuggled into US in its original packaging – foil backed, clear plastic “blister packs” or “bubble packs”  Pills sometimes removed from packaging and put into vitamin or medication bottles  Sometimes ground into a powder  Occasionally found in liquid form

How is Rohypnol being abused?  Across the country, reports of people being “dosed” by other people without knowledge  Whole or crushed Rohypnol tablet dropped into drinks  When dissolved, Rohypnol is odorless, tasteless and colorless  Can be dissolved in any liquid

Street Names for Rohypnol  Ruffies, Roofies, Rophies, Roches, Roaches, La Rochas, Rope, Rib, Forget Pill  Poor man’s Quaalude, Circles, Dulcitas, Trip-and-Fall, Mind-Erasers, Mexican Valium, Potatoes  Negatives, Minuses (referring to minus sign on 1 mg tablets) or Pluses (referring to plus sign on 2 mg tablets)

Against the Law  It is illegal to possess or distribute Rohypnol in the United States  It is a Schedule IV Controlled Substance  Never been approved for medical use in the US

The Drug-Induced Rape Prevention & Punishment Act of 1996  In 1996, Congress passed this federal law that makes simple possession of Rohypnol punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine  Distribution or administration of Rohypnol to another person without their knowledge and with the intent to commit a crime of violence is punishable by up to 20 years in prison

“The last thing I remember about the party was this guy giving me a drink. I woke up seven hours later in his bedroom. I can’t remember anything in between.”

What is GHB?  Gamma-hydroxybutyrate  Tested for potential medical uses in the US  Never been approved outside of FDA research trials  GHB has also been promoted for body-building  In 1990, the FDA issued warning to consumers to stop using GHB because of numerous deleterious effects

What are the effects of GHB?  Powerful synthetic drug acts as a depressant on the central nervous system (CNS)  Effects of the drug can be felt within 15 minutes of ingestion

Effects of GHB  Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, seizures, respiratory depression, intense drowsiness, unconsciousness and coma  In some cases, GHB can cause anterograde amnesia, memory loss of events that took place after ingestion  When taken with alcohol or other drugs, consequences may be life-threatening

Effects of GHB 2 characteristics of GHB make it especially dangerous 2 characteristics of GHB make it especially dangerous  Firstly, most of the GHB used today is “homegrown” made by non-professionals in their own “street labs” (bathtubs or kitchens) with caustic chemicals and solvents  Leads to significant difference in degrees of purity, concentration and potency

Effects of GHB  Secondly, there is a very narrow margin between the dose that will produce intoxication and the amount that will cause the harmful effects previously listed, including death.  Different “cooks” and different “batches” will cause the substance produced to vary greatly; no way to tell before you take it

What does GHB look like?  Most commonly made in a clear liquid  Colorless and odorless  Has also been produced as a white crystalline powder

How is GHB being abused?  Reports of GHB being distributed in clubs, bars, raves and other parties across the country  Usually sold by capfuls, teaspoons, drops or “swigs”  May be passed around in sports bottles, water bottles, small paper cups or other containers

How is GHB being abused?  Potential victim may be unknowingly drugged with GHB  Clear liquid is easily dropped into drinks  May be recognizable by its slightly salty taste  Taste is sometimes masked by serving in a sweet liqueur, or said to be a special energy drink

GHB Street Names  Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), Liquid X, Liquid E, Liquid Ecstasy, Easy Lay  G, Vita-G, G-Juice, Georgia Home Boy, Great Hormones  Somatomax, Bedtime Scoop, Soap, Gamma 10 and Energy Drink

Is everyone affected the same way?  Difficult to predict the exact effects of any drug on a particular individual  Will vary upon the drug, the dose, whether the drug is mixed with alcohol or other drugs, weight, gender, metabolism and other factors, including how soon victim receives medical attention

Taking Care of Yourself  Don’t drink beverages that you didn’t open yourself  Don’t share or exchange drinks with anyone  Don’t take a drink from a punch bowl  If possible, bring your own drinks to a party

Taking Care of Yourself  If someone offers you a drink from the bar, accompany the person to order your drink, watch the drink being poured and carry the drink yourself  Don’t leave your drink unattended while talking, dancing, using the restroom or making a phone call

Taking Care of Yourself  If you realize that your drink has been left unattended, discard it  Don’t drink anything that has am unusual taste or appearance (i.e., salty taste, excessive foam, unexplained residue)  Never mix drugs with alcohol

Watching Out for Your Friends  Appoint a designated sober person & have a plan to periodically check on one another at a party  If a friend appears very intoxicated, gets sick after drinking a beverage, passes out and is difficult to awaken, seems to be having difficulty breathing, get medical help

Watching Out for Your Friends  If you see or hear that someone is “dosing” the punchbowl or a drink, intervene. Confront the person, warn the victim, discard the drink and/or get help  Warn friends about high-risk situations, such as clubs where “dosing” is known to have occurred

“This guy was on top of me. I tried to push him off, but I couldn’t lift my arms. They felt like they were full of sand.”

Signs That You May Have Been Drugged  If you feel a lot more intoxicated than your usual response to the amount of alcohol you consumed  If you wake up very hung over, feeling “fuzzy”, experiencing memory lapse and can’t account for a period of time

Signs That You May Have Been Drugged  If you remember taking a drink, but cannot recall what happened for a period of time after you consumed the drink  If you feel as though someone had sex with you but you can’t remember any or all of the incident

Drug-Facilitated Rape: What If It Happens To You?  Get to a safe place  Get help immediately  Ask a trusted friend to stay with you and assist you with getting the help you need  Call the police  Get medical care  Go to a hospital emergency room ASAP for an examination and evidence collection

Drug-Facilitated Rape: What If It Happens To You?  Request that the hospital take a urine sample for drug toxicology testing to be done by law enforcement (A special test must be conducted to detect Rohypnol in a urine specimen)  Preserve as much physical evidence as possible

Drug-Facilitated Rape: What If It Happens To You?  Do not urinate, shower, bathe, douche, or throw away the clothing you were wearing during the incident  If possible, save any other materials that might provide evidence, such as the glass that held your drink  Call a rape crisis center for information and support

 CWU Police  Wildcat Wellness Center 963- Other resources, Chief? Aspen? What else? For more information, contact: