Sexual Assault Awareness | Christopher Newport University

Drugs Commonly Used for Sexual Assault

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
- What it does
  It causes a feeling of well being and drowsiness and is reported to increase sexual desire.
- How it is taken?
  It can be taken in liquid form or pill form.
- What happens when you take it?
  GHB is a depressant that acts on the central nervous system. It makes you feel as though you are happy and content and is normally taken as a downer after an upper such as ecstasy or cocaine.
- Side effects
  It is reported as a strength enhancer, euphoriant, and aphrodisiac.
- Caution!
  Do not under any circumstances take this drug with alcohol, anti depressants or other types of drugs as the reaction of any of these can have a fatal effect. There have been numerous deaths in the U.S. contributed to this drug.
Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
- What it does
  Causes effects similar to intoxication yet without a hangover the next morning.
- How it is taken?
  Either as a tablet or a solution that is injected.
- What happens when you take it?
  Rohypnol often causes decreased blood pressure, drowsiness, visual disturbances, dizziness, confusion, gastrointestinal disturbances, and urinary retention.
- Side effects
  Chemical induced amnesia
- Caution!
  Rohypnol is a primary drug used in sexual assault because of its ability to induce amnesia in the person who took it.
Ketamine Hydrochloride (Ketamine)
- What it does
  Usually causes drowsiness and loss control of your body. It can also cause unconsciousness and even death. Ketamine also causes strange hallucinations to occur (the reason why it was removed as an anaesethic).
- How it is taken?
  It is most commonly taken as a pill, although it can be sniffed as a powder and can also be injected.
- What happens when you take it?
  It will start to act in 5 - 10 minutes and initially a feeling of numbness and a sort of looking in on things will happen. Then as the drug goes through your body you will progressively feel more and more out of it. If you're on a dance floor, music can sound heavy, weird and strangely compelling, lights seem very intense and physical coordination can fall apart along with an overall feeling of numbness. The effects can last for many hours and in some cases the drug may make you feel very unwell and you may throw up or fall over.
- Side effects
  Respiratory failure is common with large dose, as is going into a coma, a feeling of numbness and an inability to control any part of your body.
- Caution!
  Do not mix this drug as the interactions with other drugs including alcohol can be fatal.

Chloral Hydrate
- What it does
  Causes unconsciousness
- How it is taken?
  Usually through a liquid form or pill form
- What happens when you take it?
  Chloral hydrate takes effect in a relatively short time (30 minutes) and will induce sleep in about an hour. A solution of chloral hydrate and alcohol constitutes the infamous "knockout drops."
- Side effects
  In toxic doses it produces severe respiratory depression and very low blood pressure. Chronic use is associated with liver damage and a severe withdrawal syndrome.
- Caution!
  As with all drugs, if taken in overdose, it can be fatal.
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or Ecstasy)
- What it does
  Ecstasy makes the person feel euphoric and light headed almost as if they had no cares in the world. It also gives people enormous energy and they can dance all night. Ecstasy is also known as the love drug, because people on it "love" everyone and tell them so as well!
- How it is taken?
  It is usually taken in small pill form, although it can also be found in a powder form.
- What happens when you take it?
  It usually takes between 30 - 45 minutes for the effects of ecstasy to start and at first it feels like you are light headed. Your body might tingle a bit and then your eyesight might start to blur a little bit. The euphoric high usually only lasts about 30 - 60 minutes, although you will continue to feel energetic for many hours afterwards. The high itself will last four between 2 - 6 hours depending on the purity of the pill taken.
- Side effects
  Ecstasy can cause a number of unwanted side effects including dehydration. It can also cause major depression on coming down and if you have any pre-existing mental health problems it can make these much worse. Other possible side effects include heart attack as the ecstasy itself increases the heart rate significantly. A common side effect of e is teeth grinding, which can be alleviate by chewing gum or sucking a lollipop which also helps to lubricate the mouth which can become very dry.
- Caution!
  Don't drink alcohol with ecstasy as it will have a very negative effect! Never mix ecstasy with other drugs whether legal or illegal, the combination could be fatal.