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Have you been asked out? Beware the Date Rape drugs?

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Chanshimla Varah | Updated on: 26 Nov 2018, 12:03:31 PM
Beware the Date Rape drugs (Photo: Facebook)

New Delhi:

The cases of date rape that mostly goes unreported have frequented over the years because of lifestyle changes such as the increasingly clubbing scenes. This scenario has become even worse because the cases of date rape are often perpetrated by the person you presumed safe. These drugs are commonly used in trains and buses to rob passengers, and in youth, parties to exploit young females for drug-facilitated sexual assault.

The drugs often have no colour, smell or taste and are easily added to flavoured drinks without the victim's knowledge. Most often date rape drugs are GHP or Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, which is a hypnotic depressant. 

When synthesised artificially, GHB can take the form of a white powder, much like table salt, or a clear liquid. It also comes in a liquid form that can be mixed with other liquids. They are often purchased by body builders at health food stores for their purported muscle-building and fat-burning qualities. GHB is less commonly available in the capsule form.

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Historically, GHB was prescribed to people who struggled to get to sleep at night. However, that usage largely stopped in 1990, when the Federal Drug Association in the United States outlawed the drug. Today, GHB is predominantly known in its illegal guise as a recreational drug taken by clubbers. Dosage in this scenario is much higher than naturally occurring levels of GHB – normally between 500mg and 3,000mg, compared with the 4.1-21.4mg found in an average litre of red wine.

As with most recreational drugs, the negative effects of GHB become more apparent with larger doses. While small amounts may make the user feel relaxed, a little more can lead to dizziness and general disorientation; more still can result in nausea, vomiting, and muscle spasms. 
The even bigger danger that is proving with this date rape drug is that it can create an overly potent sedative effect when mixed with alcohol or illegal party drugs such as ketamine. Various studies have reported that when this drug is mixed with other sedatives, you can suffer the risks of suffering from amnesia or slipping into a coma are greatly increased under these circumstances.

Most crooks opt for this drug because after a 12-hour period and the alleged assault, GHB disappears from the bloodstream leaving the culprits to escape scotch free. 

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So, how can you tell if your drink is spiked?

There are a few tale-tell signs to know if your drink has been spiked. One common observation is that it lends drinks a slightly salty taste. Other sings are any unexpected change in your mood or sensory perception such as feeling sleepy, unexpected extasy or feeling disoriented could indicate an unintentional dose of GHB.

Dos and Don'ts to avoid being drugged:

  • Make sure to never leave your drinks unattended. 
  • Don’t drink anything that smells or taste strange. 
  • Taking along a non-drinking friend always helps. If you think that you have been drugged and raped, report to the police 
  • immediately or get a urine test as soon as possible.

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First Published : 26 Nov 2018, 12:03:14 PM

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