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Date rape drugs are used to render a victim weak or confused. They are frequently odorless, colorless and tasteless and are typically added to drinks. If you are drugged, you may not even remember.
The four most common date rape drugs are:
Rohypnol (roh-HIP-nol) is the trade name for flunitrazepam (FLOO-neye-TRAZ-uh-pam). Rohypnol takes 30-45 minutes to take effect and those effects may last as long as 8 hours. If drugged, your speech and behavior would cause you to act drunk. Your speech may be slurred and you may have trouble standing. Depending on the dose, you may also feel nausea and it could cause death. Rohypnol is also known as roofies.
GHB, short for gamma hydroxybutyric (GAM-muh heye-DROX-ee-BYOO-tur-ihk) acid. GHB is a sedative that can cause memory loss. To be effective as a date-rape drug, relatively high doses of the salty-tasting drug must be used. The salty taste can be a give-away but soft drinks, beer or wine easily masks the flavor. GHB takes effect in only 15 minutes and typically lasts from one to three hours. It causes relaxation, drowsiness, dizziness, loss of consciousness. GHB is known as:
MDMA or ecstasy typically causes a person to feel "lovey-dovey" towards others. Ecstasy takes effect in 30-60 minutes and lasts up to four hours. It causes a euphoric feeling and lowers a person's ability to reason. Someone under the influence of ecstasy has a difficult time recognizing danger.
Alcohol – the most common date rape drug is legal and readily available. Too much alcohol reduces a person’s ability to think clearly, set limits, make good choices or say "no" to sexual advances.
To protect yourself from becoming a victim:
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