Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault
In
drug-facilitated sexual assault, the perpetrator uses alcohol or other drugs as
a method to decrease resistance from the person they are assaulting.
Alcohol
Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in facilitating sexual assault.
Perpetrators feed victims large quantities of alcohol to get her or him
intoxicated, or target individuals who are already intoxicated. While
intoxicated, it is easy to get isolated from a group of friends and become a
target for sexual assault.
Drugs
Drugs used for sexual assault are also known as date rape drugs. Drugs used for
sexual assault include GHB, Ketamine, and Rophynol (A.k.a. Rib, Roach, Roofies, Rope, Rophies, The forget pill). These are fast-acting liquids
that can be easily slipped into drinks.
Intoxication requires as little as 1 teaspoon of the liquid.
How They
Work
- These drugs are typically odorless,
colorless, and tasteless when placed in liquid (except for GBL).
- 5-30 minutes after ingestion, the
victim of the drugging may struggle to talk or to move and may eventually
pass out.
- At this point the drugged individual
is vulnerable to assault.
- A survivor of such an assault may have
virtually no memory of the perpetrator or any details of the events that
occurred.
Even if you drink or take drugs, a sexual assault is never your fault,
aggressors take advantage of your inability to consent. Reasons for inability
to consent include, sleeping, being drugged, passed out or unconscious.
Signs and Symptoms
- Acting
extremely intoxicated after consuming no or a small amount of alcohol
- Impaired
judgment or inhibition
- Dizziness,
confusion, trouble with coordination
- A
victim thinks she/he may have been assaulted, but is not sure (unexplained
soreness or injuries, woke up in a different place and can't remember how
she/he got there, etc.).
- A
victim's recollection of assault is patchy and confused; she/he may
remember only parts of the assault, or none at all.
- A
victim remembers the assault, but was unable to move or speak. ("It
was like I was watching the whole thing. I tried to scream, but no words
came out...").
- A
victim felt her/his intoxication level did not correlate with the amount
of alcohol consumed. Victim woke up feeling "fuzzy", very hung
over, experiencing memory lapse and can't account for periods of time.
What to do
- If a friend seems out of it, is way
too drunk for the amount of liquor she's had, or is acting out of
character, get her to a safety place immediately.
- If you
think you’ve been drugged, seek medical attention immediately
- If you think a friend has been drugged
, seek medical attention immediately
- If you get medical care, be explicit
with doctors so they'll give you the right tests. Most
substances can be detected through appropriate drug testing.
- Get
help for anyone who seems like they may have been drugged - even if you
don't know them, stay with them
- Call
the Regional Sexual Assault Centre or on campus counselling clinic.
Safety tips
for safe drinking
- Limit
alcohol consumption so you are better able to assess your surroundings
- If your
opened drink tastes, looks, or smells strange, do not drink it!
- At parties, don't drink from punch
bowls or other large, common open containers.
- Don't leave your drink unattended
while talking, dancing, using the ladies room, or making a phone call.
- Insist
on pouring your own drink or watching while your drink is mixed or prepared
- Keep an
eye on your drink or open can; Do not trust someone else to watch your
drink for you
- Don’t take drinks from someone you don’t know
- Be
aware of individuals pressuring you to drink
- Go out
with friends and be sure to go home with friends
- Watch out for your friends.
