According to Kelly Neal, there are two popular drugs used in date rape. The first one is Rohypnol, which is also known as Roofies. The next is GHB, a short-term for gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid or gamma-hydroxybutyrate. But there is also a third type of date rape drug known as Ketamine.
Kelly's study was backed up by the Needs Assessment Department under the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. The Department's Director, Jane Maxwell said that these club drugs or date rape drugs are on the rise. What is even more alarming is the fact that while these are popular with individuals in their 20's, they have also been used by seventh to twelfth graders.
Rohypnol or Roofies
Rohypnol is said to be more popular than GHB. This is the brand name of the drug Flunitrazepam and is being produced by the Hoffman-Laroche and Company. This drug is said to be around 10 times stronger than Valium, a popular trademark for a tranquilizer drug known as diazepam. This is actually a pill that can be dissolved in water.
The US government banned the importation of Rohypnol. Despite this, however, the possession of the drug has not been banned yet. This makes it a growing threat to young adults. The worst thing is that the kind of high experienced from using Rohypnol lasts up to eight hours. Add to that the fact that rape victims will not remember events that took place during that period of time.
Gamma-Hydroxy Butyrate or GHB
This drug is popular in Europe as more of a general anesthetic for treatment of various disorders like narcolepsy, alcoholism (and alcohol withdrawal), stress, insomnia, and anxiety. At times, it is also offered to prevent pain in women when they give birth. This is a liquid that is odorless and colorless.
GHB has not yet been approved in the US. The FDA had even banned it for sale over-the-counter. The banning was made due to the severe effects that GHB can bring to the user. Examples of these adverse effects are drowsiness, nausea, loss of consciousness, slow heart rate and dizziness. Just like the Roofies, people under the influence of this drug rarely remember what took place when they are on this drug's high. At the worst, this can lead to coma and seizures or even death.
The Third Most Popular Date Rape Drug – Ketamine
Ketamine is yet another date rape drug that is popular nowadays. This one comes in powder form. With this substance, rape victims will usually feel hallucinated. The victim may also experience convulsions, loss of coordination and consciousness, violent behavior as well as loss of identity. At times, this may also cause fatal respiratory failure.
