Known
as a "roofies" or rohypnol, the date rape pill
is a sedative 10 times more powerful than Valium. This small,
tasteless, odorless pill dissolves easily in a drink, works
in about 10 minutes, and costs about $1.50 each. Someone
who has taken a date rape pill becomes very disoriented
and then passes out, with no or very little memory of what
happened.
Rapists are using the date rape pill to entrap women. They
bring a woman a drink having dropped the pill in it. Or
they put the pill in the drink or food when the woman leaves
the table. When the woman becomes ill or disoriented, the
rapist "very kindly" helps her leave, taking her
home or to some other place. Sometimes he reads her address
on her drivers licence. Then, while she is semi-conscious
or passed out, he rapes her. The woman wakes up the next
day, and is not able to explain what happened.
The date rape pill has been discussed on television and
in magazine articles. The following safety habits can protect
you from a bad experience:
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