Safety from Date Rape Drugs is an important topic that should not be missed. It is very important that you are aware of the necessary precautions you should take, and especially you need to educate your young kids/teenagers about it.
What are Date Rape Drugs and how are they used?
Date rape drugs are drugs (such as cocaine or ketamine) that are used on a date (or in various other circumstances like an office party) placed secretly usually in the drink or food of a potential victim to induce a state (such as confusion, physical weakness, or unconsciousness).
This makes the victim vulnerable to sexual assault and especially rape, less capable of defending themselves and, sometimes not even having the memory of the event.
Alcohol is most commonly used for this purpose.
Date rape is not necessarily on a date. A sexual assault can happen at home and by someone, you know very well, and in workplaces, at a friend’s birthday party, almost anywhere. The person is in most cases known to the victim.
Describing These Drugs
Commonly used drugs are marijuana, cocaine, and some prescription or over-the-counter drugs like antidepressants and tranquilizers. Most drugs have a nickname, and these keep changing over a period and in different countries.
Most of these drugs do not have any color, smell, and taste when added to a drink or food. Therefore, the victim will not realize in case her drink or food is spiked with it.
These drugs usually act fast and the degree of intoxication depends on the dose and whether it is further mixed with alcohol.
What are the common symptoms of these drugs?
- Feeling dizzy
- Drowsy
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Difficulty in maintaining balance
- Coherent speech
- Passing out.
When one wakes up, one may not be able to remember the events.
Safety from Date Rape Drugs: What are the precautions that we should be aware of?
- It is advisable to avoid taking drinks from other people.
- It is prudent to get your drink from the bartender.
- One must open one’s own drink. And then keep an eye on it all the while.
- One should keep an account on how much one is taking and ensure that you are in control of yourself all the while.
Common Signs
When you wake up then you can watch out for the following signs that may suggest that there may have been an assault if you:
- Do not remember consuming alcohol or drugs but have a hangover.
- Feel sore in your private area.
- Have unexpected bruises, cuts, scratches, bleeding, and pain, on your body and you cannot remember how you got them.
- Your clothes are torn or have unusual stains.
Getting Help Is Important
- Under these circumstances, it is important first to seek help from a family member or a trusted friend.
- Then it is important to get to a doctor.
- It is important that before you get to the doctor you should avoid passing urine, bathing, washing your hands, brushing your teeth or hair, changing clothes, or eating or drinking as the doctor will not be able to collect evidence of the assault from your body.
- The doctor will then do the needful.
Keep your teenagers informed. Book a Teenage Counselling Session With Dr. Sangeeta Agrawal
