Date rape drugs are several drugs that generally have no flavor, taste, or smell when added to drinks, and make their victims drowsy, confused, or otherwise unable to defend themselves. Using drugs to make a teen have sex is a type of rape, and is a serious crime. Teens and their parents should educate themselves about date rape drugs and how teens can stay safe.

One in three teen or adult females will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, and teen and adult males can also be sexually assaulted. Since the 1990's the number of teens assaulted through the means of date rape drugs has been increasing. Also, about 1 percent of teens admit to using date rape drugs for other illegal purposes, such as getting high.

Date rape drugs are easily added to drinks to incapacitate teen victims. There are several types of date rape drugs, including Rohypnol, GHB, and Ketamine.

Rohypnol is also known as rophies, roofies, roach, and rope, and is similar to newer drugs called Xanax, Klonopin, and Rivotril. Rohypnol usually comes in the form of a pill that dissolves in liquids. Some Rohypnol turns blue when it dissolves, but many Rohypnol pills have no color.

GHB, or gamma hydroxybutyrate, is commonly known as liquid ecstasy, soap, easy lay, vita-G, and Georgia home boy. GHB comes in several forms, including a colorless, odorless liquid, a white powder, or a pill. GHB is made by some people in home labs, so it can contain any number of dangerous chemicals.

Ketamine is a white powder and is used in the U.S. as an anesthetic.

These date rape drugs have similar effects on teen victims, which can include: 

• Loss of memory 
• Lower blood pressure and heart rate 
• Sleepiness 
• Muscle relaxation or loss of muscle control 
• Drunk or dream-like feelings 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Problems talking, including slurred speech 
• Loss of consciousness 
• Confusion 
• Problems seeing 
• Dizziness 
• Breathing problems 
• Hallucinations and other distorted perceptions 
• Seizures or convulsions 
• Coma 
• Death, especially if mixed with alcohol or other drugs

Alcohol is also considered a date rape drug because it makes it harder to think clearly and resist attack.

Here are some things teen girls and guys can do to protect themselves against date rape drugs: 

• Keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom. 
• Don't drink from punch bowls. 
• Don't accept drinks from others. 
• Only drink from containers you opened yourself. 
• Don't drink things that taste or look funny. 
• Don't drink alcohol or use drugs. 
• Go to parties with friends and watch out for each other. 
• Be clear about your standards and limits, and avoid people who pressure you to change them.
• Stay away from people and situations that make you feel uncomfortable.
• Don't go off alone with anyone you don't know well.

Remember that even if someone has been drinking it is not his or her fault if he or she is raped or assaulted.

If you think that you have been drugged or raped, go to the hospital or police station right away to get medical help, even if you do not want to press charges against your attacker or know who your attacker is. Do not clean up, change your clothes, or urinate (pee) before getting help.

Find someone you can talk to; you may feel guilty, afraid, ashamed, or shocked, but it is important to talk to someone you can trust about what happened to you. Call a crisis center or hotline to talk with a counselor. The number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-SAFE or 800-787-3224 (TDD).

If you know a teen who has been the victim of date rape drugs, be supportive, encourage the teen to get medical help and counseling, and reinforce the idea that the victim is not at fault for what happened to her or him.

Teens and Date Rape Drugs Sources:

• National Institute on Drug Abuse, "NIDA InfoFacts: Rohypnol and GHB" [online]
• Nemours Foundation, TeensHealth, "Date Rape" [online]
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, womenshealth.gov, "Date Rape Drugs" [online]

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