I'm writing this because I don't think people really understand the dangers of date rape drugs.I recently had cause to do some research into rohynol and the other main date-rape drugs. I won't go into why here, lets just say that one young girl got off VERY lucky.
She only spent the night deliriously vomiting her guts out. She didn't get raped. The sole reason for this is she went to the party with friends who took care of her.
It wasn't alcohol that did it - I've seen my share of drunken regretfulness. She got drugged.
What little she could fit together was that she'd left her drink with a slimy guy for 2 minutes while she used the bathroom. This was a small party in a quiet neighbourhood, in a city where its still pretty much safe.
It wasn't some reckless slut at a sleazy bikers party in a rough neighbourhood. We're talking about an intelligent woman in a "safe" place.
It could've been anyone.
As an example, I'll describe rohypnol - what I suspect was slipped to the woman in question.
Rohypnol is an ideal drug for the wannabe date rapist. Its easily used, fast acting, causes memory loss, and ensures docility. Even if the victim works out that she was raped, she won't know who did it or how. Even in the remotely probability that she DOES come forward, it might be after the drug has flushed from her system (24-72 hours), and she has no memory anyway. Scared yet?
Rohypnol is a benzodiazepine - a tranquiliser. Its one of many drugs that can be used to immobilise victims. Most of them mimic the effects of alcohol, at least initially.
It can cause dizziness and unconsciousness almost immediately. When taken with alcohol, it can cause respiratory depression, leading to death. Since the assholes who use this sort of thing don't have a clue about the drug, this is a major risk. We aren't just talking potential rape here - we're talking murder.
Rohypnol dissolves very rapidly, and is invisible in solution. The manufacturers are supposedly producing a form which produces a coloured solution, but don't bet your life on it.
The best defence is to just not accept drinks from people you don't totally trust. Don't leave your drink anywhere out of your sight. Don't drink too much - alcohol is still a pretty decent date rape drug. Be paranoid - its better than the other options...
Links:
http://www.gscmercury.org/Current%20Issues/Apr-19-99/drug.htm
http://www.campuslife.utoronto.ca/services/police/rohypnol.html
http://holly.colostate.edu/~amblack/drugs.html
http://fp.isys.ca/ssacc/drugs.htm
http://www.jmu.edu/sassault/roofies