Date Rape Drugs

Below you will find summaries of the current date rape drugs. These drugs are usually slipped into your drink when you aren't looking and have a range of effects from lowering your resistance to increasing your sex drive. What makes them so dangerous is the fact that you usually can't detect their presence in your drink; they have no taste, color or smell and worst of all, they often produce amnesia during the time that they are in your system. This amnesia effect may prevent users from remembering how they took the drug or even that they were given it by others.

Familiarize yourself with their effects, how they are used, onset, and even slang names. Make sure to look at our tips to protect yourself from date rape drugs at parties and on dates. If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or your friends, get out of the situation and to a safe place as quickly as possible. Most victims of date rape drugs say that they noticed themselves getting intoxicated way too fast for what they were drinking.

GHB (Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate):

• Slang for GHB: Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid Ecstasy, Georgia Home Boy, Scoop, Liquid X, Somatomax, G, Easy Lay, Liquid G
• Appearance: GHB is a clear liquid that looks just like water. It can be mistaken for water because it is usually found in a small (30ml) clear plastic bottle, a water bottle, or even Gatorade bottles, which contains several doses.
• Definition: GHB is made from gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide - basically it is degreasing solvent or floor stripper mixed with drain cleaner. When GBL or products containing it (weight lifting supplements, anabolic steroids) are ingested, GHB is produced in the body.
• Effects include: confusion, drowsiness, disorientation, lowered inhibitions, euphoria, increased sex drive, desire to socialize
• Signs of overdose include: vomiting, slow heart rate, coma, involuntary muscle movements, respiratory depression, delirium
• Onset: 5-20 minutes after ingestion
• Lasts: 1 ½ to 3 hours
• Administration: oral

• Slang for Ketamine: Special K, Ket, Vitamin K, K
• Appearance: Ketamine is a white powder or an IV liquid.
• Definition: Ketamine is an anaesthetic commonly used in veterinary medicine and commercially sold as Ketalar
• Effects include: loss of motor control, temporary memory loss, numbness, drowsiness, nausea, disassociation from body, blocks normal thinking, memory recall and sensory input causing the brain to create hallucinations inability to feel pain
• Effects of overdose include: unconsciousness, can depress circulatory and respiratory systems resulting in oxygen depletion to the brain; especially dangerous when mixed with alcohol or other depressants
• Onset: 5-20 minutes (depending on route of administration)
• Duration: peaks between 20 minutes to an hour and fades over 2-3 hours.
• Administration: oral, intramuscular, IV, occasionally snorted

• Slang for Rohypnol: Roofies, Ruffies, Ropies, Roche, R-2, Mexican Valium, Rib, Rope
• Appearance: The tablets are round, white and slightly smaller than an aspirin. The manufacturer's marking are similar to those found on other pills, including Rivotril and Valium. The pills usually come in bubble packs similar to legal drugs.
• Definition: Rohypnol is a benzodiazepine, prescribed outside of the U.S. for treatment of sleep disorders. Rohypnol is illegal in the U.S.
• Effects Include: impaired motor skills, muscle relaxation, decreased blood pressure, sleepiness, amnesia, disinhibition
• Effects of overdose include: Rohypnol overdose alone is unlikely to be fatal but when mixed with alcohol, as is common, death is more likely.
• Symptoms include: drowsiness, mental confusion, depressed breathing and cardiac function, lethargy, coma
• Onset: within 30 minutes of ingestion
• Duration: peak within 2 hours and may last for 8 hours depending on amount taken.
• Administration: oral, dissolved in drinks, occasionally snorted