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One of the things BEST Advice doesn't want to do is to worry, scare or frighten parents, and that's hard not to do if we are talking about Date Rape. If you have a child in their late teens, then they are old enough to go to adult clubs, dances, large parties or raves. While no one is suggesting it will happen to them, they are in an environment where date rape can happen and does happen.

What is Date Rape?

Date Rape is a slightly misleading term as the word rape carries with it the legal definition of full sex without consent, but date rape encompasses any sexual assault which takes place without the recipients consent or knowledge. Again the use of the term "date" is also misleading as it implies the actions are undertaken by someone the victim is going out with, and as we shall see later in the section, that isn't always the case either.

Date Rape, or Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA), is not a common issue, but it is one that parents and older teenagers should be aware of and in certain venues be on their guard against. DFSA occurs when someone, without their knowledge has their drink "spiked" with something which will render them incapable or unable to control what they are doing. While they are in this unconscious or unresponsive state, the offender takes advantage of their condition and engages in sexual activity with them. Although fairly rare, these offences are treated very seriously by the Police and if the offender is caught, tried and convicted, equally as seriously by the Courts.

Aside from being punished for the sexual offences committed, the offender also faces prosecution under a different section of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which makes it an offence to "administer a substance to a person with intent to overpower that person to enable sexual activity with them."

Most people connect this type of incident with the administering of a sedative drug, but often alcohol on its own is used, and the victim is plied with drinks containing considerably more booze than they realise. Sometimes drugs are put into a drink and the interaction between the drug and the alcohol has the desired effect.

Often the victim will wake up the following morning having little or no recollection of what has gone on during the evening, past a certain point it is a complete blank.

Where can this type of thing happen?

Well, to be honest, anywhere where people and drink come together. Although it is less common in a pub or bar environment, it has occurred in such places. Office parties, nightclubs, raves, the list of possible venues is endless.

What sort of drugs are used?

Alcohol

The most common one is widely available, legal and often cheap - Alcohol.

Alcohol is a causation factor in the majority of cases, and while victims frequently think they have been drugged, this is often found not to be the case. A study conducted by the UK Forensic Science Service looked at samples taken from 1014 rape victims and found only 2% had been drugged. Further investigations on 391 of the samples showed 32% had alcohol in their systems in such quantities that it would cause them to black out or have reduced memory.

Other studies have shown similar trends with samples taken from people who thought they had drunk a drug spiked drink showing no evidence of sedatives or other drugs but strong indication that they had consumed more alcohol than they had purchased. Sometimes it is very hard to tell if you are drinking the single vodka in a coke that you asked for or one that someone has put in two or three extra shots.

While there is little supporting evidence that in the majority of cases drugs other than alcohol are used, four narcotics have been linked with DFSA cases:

Ecstasy

Ecstasy has been used in nightclubs and if slipped into a drink it can make the recipient less likely to realise what is happening and more prone to accept sexual advances they may otherwise never consider.

Rohypnol

Rohypnol is a prescription only drug used in the treatment of short term sleep disorders. It is a Class C controlled substance and therefore being in possession of it other than by prescription is illegal. It comes in tablet form and dissolves easily in liquids, especially when ground up in to a powder. It takes effect very quickly, often within 15 minutes and the effects are very similar to being drunk. Speech will be slurred, movement unsteady and coordination very poor. It effects can last for several hours and it reputedly has a very adverse effect on the memory. When mixed with alcohol, the effects of both the drug and the alcohol are increased.

Ketamin

Ketamin, a Class C controlled drug, is a powerful anaesthetic used in both human and veterinary medicine, so the old story about it being a horse anaesthetic is, to some degree, true. It usually comes in the form of a clear liquid. Some of the symptoms of Ketamine are impaired motor function, loss of coordination, memory loss, distorted sight perception and slurred or incoherent speech.

Gamma hydroxy-butyrate (GHB)

Sometimes known as "liquid ecstasy", GHB is also a Class C controlled drug and is often made in homes or makeshift "labs". It is a particularly potent and volatile drug and there are many reports of people suffering serious consequences after taking it, especially when mixed with alcohol. Naturally, those consequences can be just as serious if it is administered to someone unknowingly. GHB can cause drowsiness, nausea, blackouts, memory loss and breathing problems.

One thing all three of these drugs have in common is that, when mixed with alcohol, their effects are increased. They can give rise to serious medical problems and really exacerbate existing medical conditions. In short, anyone who has been given these, or any other drug, unknowingly, is at risk and in danger.

How can this happen in a crowded place?

If someone can get at your drink, it can happen. Victims, especially those enjoying a night out alone, have recalled feeling unwell, as if they were drunk, and then a guy coming over and helping them, offering to take them home, holding them up and taking them out of the nightclub.

If you saw a guy helping a girl who is having trouble walking and talking, it would be quite natural to assume that "she's had too much and her boyfriend is taking her home" and very often you would probably be right, but it's easy to see how a DFSA offence can be instigated right under peoples noses.

What's being done to prevent it?

Once the problem was recognised, a lot of clubs took a very proactive stand to try to eliminate the problem. Most clubs and nightclubs now have a &zero tolerance" policy for drugs on the premises and all customers are searched on entry. People found in possession of drugs are relieved of them and anyone caught dealing is immediately handed over to the Police.

Bar staff will not serve drinks in odd combinations, e.g. "a bottle of larger with two large vodkas in it please" and any one seen adding a spirit to a different drink will very quickly come under the scrutiny of the security staff.

Security Staff are now vigilant for people especially young ladies who appear to have become ill or intoxicated very quickly and especially so of a stranger who comes over to offer help.

A lot of clubs have joined with other agencies to ensure people know that DFSA offences do happen in such venues and also to offer constructive help and guidance to people to make sure it doesn't happen to them.

The manufacturers of Rohypnol have changed how the tablets work to make it more difficult for those who get hold of them illegally and want to use them in cases such as these. The tablets now change the colour of clear liquids to bright blue and make dark drinks turn cloudy, giving the drinker some indication that their drink may have been tampered with. While the manufacturers should be applauded for doing this, those changes could still be difficult to spot in a dark club, or in a drink in a dark bottle, so here are some tips as to what can be done to prevent it happening in the first place.

What can I do to prevent it?

• Don't accept drinks from other people, especially strangers.
• Open containers yourself.
• Keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom.
• Don't share drinks.
• Don't drink from punch bowls or other common, open containers. They may already have drugs in them.
• If someone offers to get you a drink from a bar or at a party, go with the person to order your drink. Watch the drink being poured and carry it yourself.
• Don't drink anything that tastes or smells strange. Sometimes, GHB tastes salty.
• Have a non-drinking friend with you to make sure nothing happens.
• If you realize you left your drink unattended, pour it out.
• If you feel drunk and haven't drunk any alcohol — or, if you feel like the effects of drinking alcohol are stronger than usual — get help right away.

(Reproduced from a non-copyright American web site: www.womenshealth.gov)

We also recommend that you don't go to any venue on your own. Go with friends, stay with friends and leave with friends. If you bump into the man of your dreams while you are there, then for sure, he can join your group, but if you are with friends, and you start showing signs that you may have had a drink which has been spiked, your friends (NOT A TOTAL STRANGER) can take over, get help and make sure you are alright.

How do I know if it has happened to me?

If you are drinking soft or non-alcoholic drinks, or have only had one or two alcoholic drinks and you start to feel as if you are drunk, then clearly something is very wrong. If you start to feel, sick, tired or have difficulty in talking, walking or coordinating your movements, then get help, and get it quickly. If you are with friends, get them to help, if not then go to one of the club security or bar staff. Never let a stranger, no matter how nice they may seem, help you.

If you have been drinking a spiked drink then it is important to get help quickly, before the effects take hold, and don't be surprised if the club or your friends call for medical help and a Paramedic or Ambulance arrives.

Inevitably, some people only realise something has happened the following morning. One of the most commonly reported symptoms is memory loss, with a large section of the previous evening being a complete blank. Often people remember having a drink and nothing afterwards and report feeling very ill and disorientated when they wake up.

If some sort of sexual assault has taken place, people often feel like they have had sex but can't remember the event. Sometimes they notice their clothing is incomplete or not on right, or find bruises or marks which they can't explain, or they discover some obvious tell-tale sign that they have had sex.

What to do if you think it has happened

If you think the worst has happened, and you suspect that you have been subject to a serious sexual assault then get help.

It is widely believed that many DFSA incidents go unreported, and the simple conclusion of that is the offender is free to do the same thing again. He can pick another venue and another victim.

If you report the matter to the Police a specially trained Police Officer will be assigned to the case straight away. This officer will have had training and experience in dealing with cases like this and remember, no one will think it is your fault. You are the victim. What you were wearing, how you behaved, what you drank, even if you did drugs will never detract from that fact, and no one will be judgemental. There are also certain things you can do to help the Police investigation. Don't change your clothing or wash. Don't eat or drink anything and if you suspect that the assault took place where you are, don't tidy up, clear anything away or throw anything out. If you can, try not to go to the loo for a pee.

Forensic evidence is one of the best tools the Police have when it comes to catching offenders in cases like these, so the more things stay untouched, the more evidence a forensic expert or a Police Surgeon can retrieve.

Earlier on in this section, we mentioned an American website which covers this subject. They have an excellent section on DFSA and if you click on the link below you can read there "Frequently Asked Questions" section. The document isn't copyright, but is reproduced by kind permission of the web site: www.womenshealth.gov

Download this information sheet on Date Rape Drugs:

Date Rape Drugs

Finally, if you suspect someone of spiking or tampering with drinks at a club, then don't stay silent. Either let the club management know, anonymously by telephone if you want, or call Crime Stoppers and let them know. Details of the contact numbers for Crime Stoppers are in the Best Advice "Crime Stoppers" section.

You could be saving someone from a nightmare.