Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

Common Symptoms and Campus Resources

Drug-facilitated sexual assault is when alcohol or other drugs are used to reduce an individual’s ability to give or revoke consent during a sexual encounter. These substances can lower inhibitions, impair the ability to resist sexual advances, and remember details after the assault. While these substances are sometimes referred to as “date rape drugs,” they can be used by intimate partners, strangers, or acquaintances. 

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CASA

In addition to policies and procedures to help ensure student safety on campus, UW-Eau Claire is home to the Center for Awareness of Sexual Assault (CASA), a support and advocacy service for victims. All services are free and confidential.

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Common Types of Date Rape Drugs

Three of the most common types of street drugs used to facilitate sexual assault are GHB, ketamine and rohypnol. Learn more about their appearance and potential side effects.

Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)

GHB is a central nervous system depressant manufactured illegally in the United States. GHB is a clear liquid (though it can be colored to hide its identity) with a slight metallic odor that is significantly heavier than water and often stored in plastic water bottles. GHB is also stored in miniature mouthwash bottles sold for around $5 per capful. GHB may also be found as a white powdered material.

Common street names include Liquid X, Liquid Ecstasy (is not ecstasy), Liquid E, Salt(y) Water, Scoop, Soap, Easy Lay, Grievous Bodily Harm, Georgia Home Boy, GHB or GBH, G-Riffick, Cherry Meth and Organic Quaalude.

As a depressant, GHB has many of the same side effects as alcohol including nausea, headaches, vomiting, drowsiness, slurred speech, dizziness, reduced breathing and heart rate, and involuntary muscle spasms. As a date rape drug, GHB relaxes inhibitions and has a reputation for increasing sex drive. Large doses may cause passing out, coma, and death - especially when combined with alcohol and other drugs.

Ketamine

Ketamine hydrochloride liquid is a veterinary tranquilizer/anesthetic that is legitimately manufactured and stolen from animal clinics or otherwise diverted. Dried Ketamine is a white powder which looks similar to pharmaceutical grade cocaine and is packaged in small plastic bags, folded paper, aluminum foil, and capsules. Liquid Ketamine is stored in vials. An individual dose of powder costs $20-$40.

Common street names include K, Special K, Vitamin K, New Ecstasy, Psychedelic Heroin, Ketalar, Ketaject, Super-K and Breakfast Cereal. Slang for experiences related to ketamine or effects of ketamine includes "k-hole," "K-land," "baby food" and "God."

Classified as a dissociative, ketamine creates a sensation where the user feels as if they are separated from their body and may report near-death experiences. Users refer to this sensation as a "K-hold" or "K-land." In this state, users do not respond to pain and are at risk of injury without being aware of it, or even caring about it.

Low doses (25 - 100mg) will produce a "high" very quickly. Larger doses can cause vomiting, seizures and reduced breathing. Doses of 1 gram or more can cause death. The ketamine "high" usually lasts for about an hour although effects may persist for 4-6 hours. Like most anesthetic agents, it may take the user 24 - 48 hours before they feel "normal" again.

Rohypnol

Rohypnol, (generically Flunitrazepam), is a sedative with approximately ten-times the potency of Valium (diazepam). The tablets are round, white, slightly smaller than aspirin and are single- or cross-scored on one side with "ROCHE" and "1" or "2" encircled on the other.

Rohypnol is manufactured worldwide, particularly in Europe and Latin America, in 1- and 2-milligram tablets by Hoffman-LaRoche, Inc., a large pharmaceutical manufacturer. However, the drug neither is manufactured nor approved for medical use in the United States. The drug is often distributed on the street in its original "bubble packaging" and is usually sold for less than $5 per tablet.

Common street names include Roofies, Rib, Roach-2, Roopies, Rope, R-2, Circles, La Roche and Mexican Valium.

The drug produces drowsiness, dizziness, slurred speech, amnesia, muscle relaxation, loss of motor control, lack of coordination, and gastrointestinal disturbances lasting 12 or more hours. Higher doses reduce heart rate and breathing. The use of this drug with alcohol is particularly dangerous as both substances increase each other's toxicity.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most common substance in drug-facilitated sexual assault. Consuming alcohol can put you at higher risk of being a victim of sexual assault and at higher risk of being a perpetrator of sexual assault. Regardless of gender, alcohol can inhibit the ability to think clearly and consent.

Because alcohol is a common element in sexual encounters between young adults, it’s important to take some steps in order to make your encounters as SAFE as possible.

Space – who has control over the space you are in?

Avoid – avoid drinking in excess.

Friends – let a friend know your plan and create a help signal.

Establish – establish boundaries and communicate desires before consuming alcohol.

When someone is drinking, they are less able to communicate what they want and don’t want in terms of sex. The odds that “maybe” or “no” will be misinterpreted to mean ”yes” increase. Some people will push others to drink more so they are less able to resist physical and verbal requests for sex. No matter how much someone has been drinking, it is never okay to force sexual contact on someone else.  

Additional steps you can take to promote safety while consuming alcohol:

  • Drink in moderation! (For example, no more than one drink per hour with food. Or alternating alcohol with water.)
  • Drink in safe places with safe people. Know who you are going to be with and where you will be.
  • Take care of friends. Develop a buddy system. Create a code word or emoji to get yourself of a friend out of an unsafe or uncomfortable situation.
  • Use the SafeWalk/SafeRide safety escort program! If you need to get back to a dorm or apartment at night and don’t want to be alone, a Campus Safety Office (CSO) can accompany you.
  • Look out for others who may be at risk and intervene or call campus police if necessary.
  • Trust your instincts! If you feel unsafe or threatened, reach out for help.

Many people think drug-facilitated sexual assault happens when someone slips a substance into a drink. While this does happen, there are many ways drug-facilitated sexual assault can occur:

Drug-facilitated sexual assault can be:
  • taking advantage of someone who is voluntarily using drugs or alcohol
  • intentionally forcing or coercing someone to consume drugs or alcohol, knowingly or unknowingly
  • initiating a sexual encounter with someone who is too intoxicated to consent
  • hiding what is in a drink or what type of drug is being offered
Some common symptoms are:
  • difficulty breathing
  • feeling drunk when having consumed little or no alcohol
  • loss of bowel/bladder control
  • nausea
  • hot or cold flashes
  • sudden dizziness or disorientation
  • missing memories from large chunks of time

If you believe you were drugged and assaulted and want to preserve evidence, it is important to act quickly. Most of these drugs can only be detected for 12-72 hours. You can go to a local hospital for a sexual assault exam and get a urine or blood test completed at that time.

Additional information can be found at the following links: