Tips

Date Rape Drug

Protect yourself from rape drugs

It is possible for anyone to be drugged and sexually assaulted. Someone could put a drug into your drink, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, without you knowing about it. This may be done to make a sexual assault easier, and you could be a victim. Sexual assault includes, not only intercourse, but fondling, oral sex, or any unwanted sexual activity.

Many different rape drugs have been used with street names like roofies, cherry meth, easy lay, gammo O, liquid ecstasy, or liquid X. Because these drugs take several forms, ranging from tablets, capsules and pills to clear odorless liquids, it is difficult to know if a drug has been put into your drink.

If you've been drugged you may feel drowsy, confused, dizzy or sick to your stomach, overly drunk, happy or outgoing. You might also experience:

• loss of coordination
• blackouts
• inability to protect yourself from an attacker
• loss of memory

If you feel any of these symptoms, or if a drink looks, smells or tastes different, stop drinking and call the police. Seek medical help if you drank any of it. Some of these drugs, when mixed with alcohol, may cause death.

How to protect yourself and your friends

•  Don't go out by yourself; go with a group of friends.
•  Don't drink anything that has not been opened or prepared in front of you.
•  If you accept a drink from another person, you are putting yourself at risk.
• Don't leave your drink alone or with other people. Take it with you.
   

Here are some things you can do to help the police find out more about what happened to you:

• Try not to shower, bathe or change your clothes; evidence could be destroyed
• Try not to disturb the area where the assault took place.
• The earlier you report the assault, the more likely that evidence will be found.
• . If you have been drugged, the evidence is most likely to show up in your urine if it is collected as soon as possible after the assault.

Members of the Fredericton Police Force Community Crime Section provide community education on drug related topics.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN YOUR CHILD EXPERIMENTS WITH DRUGS?

There are no easy answers or solutions to this problem.

1. Provide a good home atmosphere and set an example for your children. If they see you abusing drugs, they may follow.
2. Be knowledgeable of and alert for signs of drug use.
3. If you suspect your child is using drugs, face the problem. Confront your child and let them know you are aware.
4. Have good communication with your children. If they have a problem they will seek your advice or help rather than turning to drugs.
5. Let your children know how you feel about drug use. Point out the dangers or risks of drug use.
6. Back up your stand with a clear set of behavioral rules and be willing to enforce them. Allow your children to accept and suffer the consequences of their behavior.
7. You may have to seek professional assistance.