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:

Watch out for your friends and make sure they are watching out for you when you are places with lots of people or people you don't know and trust like at a party or in a coffeehouse or in a bar.

Be aware. Now that you know about the date rape pill, it is your responsibility to watch out for yourself and people you care about.

Don't go home with someone you don't both know and trust and don't accept drinks when you are alone at a house where there are strangers (like at a party).

Make an agreement ahead of time with friends that you won't let each other leave with people you haven't planned to go with.

Don't leave your drink or food unattended at a party or coffeehouse or lounge or anywhere else that people you don't know and trust could have access to it.