Although not a new phenomenon, concern over substance-related rape is rapidly increasing as perpetrators find more severe and dangerous means to sedate victims.

The common use of alcohol as a sedative is being combined with and even replaced by illicit use of Rohypnol, GHB, and other similar drugs. Though Rohypnol is illegal in the U.S., and GHB is FDA-approved only for physician supervised protocols, they are both manufactured and sold legally in other countries.

Rohypnol is intended to curb severe sleep disorders, and GHB to be used as an adjunct to anesthesia. However, more and more frequently these drugs are being used to sedate potential sexual assault victims.

Among reported cases in which drugs are used to facilitate rape, the perpetrator most commonly laces a victim's drink with the drug. Since Rohypnol and GHB (as well as most other drugs used to facilitate date rape) can be produced in forms that lack color, odor, taste and dissolves quickly, a victim can ingest it unknowingly.

If you suspect you have been drugged and/or sexually assaulted:

Individuals who suspect they have been assaulted and/or drugged with Rohypnol, GHB, or any other substance, may choose to contact their local rape crisis center or law enforcement agency for drug testing and information on available resources. Most substances can be detected through appropriate drug testing. The findings of such tests can provide valuable evidence in a court of law if the victim/survivor chooses to prosecute the case.

Rohypnol can be found in urine for up to 72 hours after ingestion. The urine test for Rohypnol will also test for the presence of other benzodiazepines, as well as for marijuana, cocaine and some opiates and barbiturates. GHB, on the other hand, is cleared from the body relatively quickly, so it is sometimes more difficult to detect through drug testing. Samples taken closer to the time of ingestion increase the likelihood of detecting the drug. Individuals who suspect they have been drugged and/or assaulted should also try to save the glass/beverage in which the drug was dissolved for testing.

For more information about date rape drugs:

Contact us, the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA), or a local law enforcement agency. Hoffman-La Roche, the manufacturer of Rohypnol, has a toll free information hotline (1-800-720-1076) that provides general information about the drug.