Date Rape and the Drug in Today’s Society

Date Rape Drugs

ROHYPNOL

• Belongs to the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, which includes Valium, Xanax, Halcion, and Versed.

• It is not approved for prescription use in the US, although it is approved in Europe and 60 other countries.

KETAMINE

• Ketamine is produced in liquid form or as a white powder that is often snorted or smoked with marijuana.

• Ketamine is an injectable anesthetic, that has been approved for human and animal use since 1970.

GAMMA - HYDROXYBUTYRATE

Can be produced in a clear liquid/ white powder, tablet, and capsule forms, and it is often used in combination with alcohol, making it even more dangerous. GHB has been increasingly involved in poisonings, overdoses, date rapes, and fatalities.

How does Date Rape Usually Occur?

Date-rapes typically occur when a woman is alone with a man. If you go to a man's room or apartment or even get into his car alone, you are vulnerable. Date rapes can occur when others are relatively close by, for example, they can take place in an upstairs bedroom while fifty people are attending a party on the first floor.

Alcohol and drugs are sometimes a significant factor in date rape. Many victims say later that they drank too much or took too many drugs to realize what was going on; by the time they realized their predicament, it was too late. Sometimes a woman passes out and awakens to find a man having sex with her. On the other hand, some date rapes occur when alcohol is not involved or when the victim has had little or nothing to drink but the man has been drinking and becomes sexually aggressive.

Mixed signals are another element in date rape. The woman acts in a friendly manner; the man interprets this friendliness as an invitation to have sex. "No" is heard as "maybe" and even a strong protest can be ignored under the delusion that women say "no" when they mean "yes." Some men find it sexually exciting to have a woman struggle. If the woman protests only mildly, the man may think he is merely "persuading" her, not forcing her to have sex (He may think the same, however, even if she protests vigorously.) Sometimes a woman is not clear in her own mind about what she wants or she may think she will make up her mind as she goes along. If she changes her mind at some point and decides not to have sex, the man can feel cheated, rejected, and angry. He may be interpreting her nonverbal messages, such as her enjoyment of kissing and caressing, as meaning that she wants to have sex with him. At this point he may decide he has been teased or misled and "deserves" to get some satisfaction, regardless of the woman's wishes. The result can be rape.

Although acquaintance rape is often a spontaneous act, many are planned, some days in advance, others in the preceding hour(s). Sometimes men plan to have sex with a woman even if they have to force the issue. These men have typically forced sex before and gotten away with it. They usually look for victims who are unassertive—perhaps someone who is not very popular and would be flattered to go on a date with him. Needless to say, these men do not see themselves as repeat rapists; they are merely "out to have a good time.”

What you can do to avoid Date Rape

You can't always avoid date rape. Nevertheless, there are some things you can do to minimize your chances of being raped.

· Examine your feelings about sex.

· Set sexual limits.

· Decide early if you would like to have sex.

· Do not give mixed messages; be clear.

· Be alert to other unconscious messages you may be giving.

· Be forceful and firm.

· Be independent and aware on your dates.

· Do not do anything you do not want to just to avoid a scene or unpleasantness.

· Be aware of specific situation in which you do not feel relaxed and in charge.

· If things stat to get out of hand, be loud in protesting, leave, go for help.

· Trust you gut-level feelings.

· Be aware that alcohol and drugs are often related to acquaintance rape.

· Avoid falling for such lines as “You would if you loved me.”

· If you are unsure of a new acquaintance, go on a group or double date.

· Have your own transportation, if possible, or taxi fare.

· Avoid secluded places where you are in a vulnerable position.

· Be careful when you invite someone to your home or you are invited to his home.

· Examine your attitudes about money and power.

· Think about pros and cons of dating much older.

A personal account:

Tara, a high school junior, arrived at a party around 10 pm with one of her friends, Sue. The party was at the house of some guys who went to a local college. They were serving beer and chips, and the music was very loud. Tara and Sue didn't recognize many of the people there, until Sue noticed Tim, the guy who had invited her. He was a friend of her older brother. Tim got beers for Tara and Sue and introduced them to a couple of other guys in the house. He spent a lot of time talking with Tara, while one of his house-mates took Sue over to the pool table for a game. After Tara finished her first beer, Tim offered to get her a refill. She gladly accepted, so she wouldn't feel awkward. Tara wasn't usually a heavy drinker, but she could handle at least three beers without getting really drunk. Tara was planning on sipping the second drink so she wouldn't get buzzed so fast. After a few sips, she began to feel very strange. She told Tim that she needed to sit down. He took her arm and helped her to the sofa in the living room. Tara's vision started to get very fuzzy, she became confused and then she passed out. The next thing she knew, Tara was back at Sue's house, and it was light outside. She didn't remember anything from last night after she had passed out. She was groggy and was sore between her legs. When Tara realized that her underpants were on inside-out, she panicked. She asked Sue how she had gotten there and what happened at the party. Sue told Tara that she lost track of her at the party and became worried when she couldn't find her. Sue started searching the house and found Tara asleep with her clothes off on a bed in an upstairs bedroom at around 11:30. Sue dressed Tara and tried to wake her up. When she couldn't, she got one of the guys at the party to help carry Tara to the car. Sue took Tara home with her to spend the night, which was their original plan. Sue's brother helped Tara into the house when they got home. Sue was worried when she couldn't wake Tara, but, she didn't want to tell her parents for fear that Tara would get in trouble for being drunk.

Tara was date raped. Rape is defined as

1. Forced sexual intercourse

2. sexual intercourse against the victim’s will and without his or her consent

3. sexual intercourse if the victim is mentally or physically incapacitated

4. sexual intercourse if the victim is under the age of consent