Contents Page s2

Contents Page

Introduction...... 2 What is Sirens…...... 2 What is While u were sleeping?...... 2 What is the identified need?...... 2 What are the substances used in drug assisted assault?...... 3 Alcohol...... 4 GHB...... 5 Rohypnol...... 5 The effects of drug assisted sexual assault on the victim...... 5 The psychological impact of sexual assault and rape...... 5 Health Impact...... 6 Male sexual assault and rape...... 7 Spiking for other motives...... 7 Sirens.. Pilot Programme...... 7 Statistical Information...... 9 Sirens… activity questionnaire...... 10 Young People’s Voices...... 11 Additional evidence of need...... 12 The next phase of the project...... 16 The future of the project...... 16 Taking the next step...... 16 Sirens… ‘While u were sleeping…’ Request for information...... 17 Sirens… ‘While u were sleeping…’ Worker referral form...... 18 Sirens… ‘While u were sleeping…’ Advertising Poster...... 19 Sirens… ‘While u were sleeping…’ Session advertisment...... 20 Sirens… ‘While u were sleeping…’ Booking Form...... 21

1 Introduction

The Sirens… project was started in the year 2001 as a Youth Service partnership between the ‘Right 2 Respect’ Young Women’s project and the Wrexham Response team. The two lead workers are Sarah O’Connell from the ‘Right 2 Respect’ Young Women’s project and Jim Smith from the Response substance misuse team. The Sirens.. project worker is Beth Parry.

What is Sirens…

Sirens.. is a partnership project aimed at providing high quality substance misuse and related information targeted primarily at young women. Additionally Sirens.. aims to offer this education in the context of the real life experiences of young women within the Wrexham community and therefore the sessions will be delivered as

. Workshop within youth centres, schools and related projects . Short interventions within pubs and clubs across Wrexham and . Profile raising campaigns across the county culminating in larger events within the town centre at busy times of the year

In order to make sure that the message of Sirens.., resonates across the county we will also offer training to

. Youth workers and other professionals interested in offering the sessions within their projects . Bar managers, bar staff and door staff on the impact of drug assisted assault and what they can do to support the safety of women socialising in their establishments . Taxi companies and their employee’s so they can be aware of how they can support the safety of their client groups.

What is While u were sleeping?

While u were sleeping is a mini project under the Sirens... banner focusing on drink spiking and drug assisted assault.

What is the identified need?

Drinking is a common rite of passage for many young people in the UK and experimenting with alcohol is nothing new or different. However over recent years there has been an increase in fear and awareness of the concept of spiking and drug assisted assault and its link to drinking and socialising. For young women this fear and perception of fear is a very real thing and affects their ability to socialise and drink within their communities and within licensed establishments.

Additionally life is changing for young men and the male gender as a whole.

2 “ Life for men is less certain and less predictable than the model of masculinity in existence 70 years ago.” Biddulph and Blake, 2002

Although men have the ability to be exceptionally positive contributors to society they can also demonstrate “ misogynist, sexist and violent behaviour towards women…” Biddulph and Blake 2002

According to the ESRC Violence Research Programme Brunel University 1998 – Taking stock What do we know about violence?

Over 40% of women report having been subjected to rude or abrasive comments in the street One in six women report having been followed in the street 95% of rape victims are female Over 80% of domestic attacks on women involve their partner or ex partner

According to the Home Office Research Directorate 1996

The highest victimisation rates for rape were in the 10-15 ages group (59 per 100,000)

According to Thompson and Pleck in ‘The structure of male norms’ in Kimmel M (ed) ‘Changing men: new directions in research on men and masculinity’ 1987 There are three main norms that can be used to identify masculinity:- Toughness, status and anti-femininity

These three aims are in themselves nothing more than a framework which men work against to decide who they are and what they believe in. Indeed many men choose to reject these norms and redefine their masculinity. However for some men these three norms are adapted into an aggression and negativity which they feel boosts their masculinity. The toughness becomes aggression, status becomes a quest for power over others and the anti-femininity often changes to an anti female attitude. It is this perversion of the positive attributes of masculinity, which often lead to anti female crimes such as rape and drug assisted assault. The ‘Sirens… While u were sleeping’ project is focused on raising awareness and harm reduction. It intends to offer realistic and relevant information to young women so that they can protect themselves and become empowered individuals armed with knowledge and not bogged down by fear and misinformation.

What are the substances used in drug assisted assault?

According to the Sturman report the following drugs have been detected in drug rape samples submitted to the Forensic Science Laboratory Alcohol GHB Zoplicone

3 Dixtromethorpine Prometazine

In addition the following drugs whilst not detected are either suspected of having been used or have the potential to be used GBL Benzodiazepines such as: Alprazolam ( Xanax) Bromazepam ( Lexotan) Chlordiazepoxide (librium) Clonazepam ( Rivotril) Diazepam(Valium) Diphenhydramine ( Benadryl etc) Flunitrazepam ( Rohypnol) Flurazepam (Dalman) Lorazepam (Ativan) Nitrazepam (Mogadon) Tamazepam (Restoril) Triazepam (Halcion) Ketamine Chloroform Zolpidem Scopolamine Yohimbine Morphine Barbituates Atropine

Alcohol

According to the Sturman Report 54% of complainants were given a drug via alcohol. Alcohol is regularly being detected in drug rape and assault samples. As a society we accept alcohol of part of our culture and therefore always assume that underhand attacks will take place via unusual drugs and substances. However alcohol is easily available and can be used to spike other drinks or other alcohol to enable an attack to take place. As the Sturman report states “Alcohol… is undoubtedly the oldest ‘Mickey Finn’ ”

When alcohol is mixed with other substances it can form a potent mixture. Alcohol is not simply the vehicle for the drug it reacts with the drug and can often speed up its affects on the body. According to the Sturman report “the rise in allegations of drug assisted assault have roughly mirrored the proliferation of alcopops.” This may indicate that people –especially young people who are the main target group for alcopop producers - are drinking more than they realise and are falling prey to sexual attack.

Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate is a synthetic drug used as an anaesthetic. Its is a colourless, practically odourless substance that can have a slightly salty taste. It is now used as an illegal recreational drug, sex drug and body building drug. According to the Sturman report GHB “may not be detectable by means of toxicology beyond eight hours after ingestion.” Information from the USA indicates that alcohol and GHB are probably the drugs used most often in drug assisted sexual assault. This according to the Sturman report is supported “by toxicology findings, symptoms displayed by complainants, seizure of the drug from offenders and admissions by offenders.” GHB is a depressant and therefore slows down body action. A small dose will have a similar impact as having a few drinks. At higher doses it can cause nausea, sleepiness, muscle stiffness and confusion. Additionally GHB can cause feelings of euphoria or induce fits or unconsciousness. The effects have been known to last for a day.

Rohypnol

Rohypnol is the drug most commonly linked to drug assisted assault in the minds of the public. However this is a misunderstanding developed when people tried to educate themselves about spiking. The Internet was the main source of information on spiking and drug assisted assault however much of the information on the Internet was from America where a few convictions based on Rohypnol had taken place. According to the Sturman report “Rohypnol has not been detected in any suspected drug rape samples submitted to the Forensic Science Service.”

The drug Rohypnol has been redesigned to minimise its potential for use in sexual assault. Rohypnol now gives off a blue dye and particles will float to the top of any liquid that it is placed in. It will take about twenty minutes to fully dissolve. Rohypnol is a tranquilliser drug which has been used legitimately for short term treatment of sleep disorders, as it produces sedative- hypnotic effects including muscle relaxation and amnesia.

The effects of drug assisted sexual assault on the victim

The psychological impact of sexual assault and rape

Drug assisted sexual assault and rape are always about using force or power to humiliate, control hurt or violate the victim rather than about sexual desire or passion.

Any person can be subjected to sexual assault or rape regardless of their status, age, cultural background, occupation or previous relationships is irrelevant. For most women sexual assault and rape is the most serious life crisis they will have to deal with. The victim will undergo a range of emotions including fear, rage, panic attacks and feelings of worthlessness. However there is no such thing as a normal reaction and therefore women will react in a wide variety of ways.

5 According to the national council of psychotherapists article Rape the victim perspective (www.natcouncilofpsychotherapists.org.uk) fear is the most common response to sexual assault and rape. It could be fear of seeing the perpetrator again, or they may associate sounds places and smells with danger. However fear may just be manifest as a general loss of personal security and inner peacefulness. The victim may also feel very depressed and have feelings of guilt, worthlessness or self disgust. Rape victims often experience a significant loss of self-esteem that often lasts for a considerable length of time.

Victims of drug assisted assault often find it harder to work through the feelings and emotional trauma linked to sexual assault if they have had memory losses or been unconscious during the assault. This often means that the victim has had ownership of her body, mind and memory taken away by the perpetrator. For victim’s there is the constant questioning of when, where and how they were assaulted that will often never be fully answered. It is increasingly recognised that rape victims may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is a normal reaction seen in normal people who have been through a terrifying situation that they had no control over. According to the psychiatric diagnostic journal manual DSM-IV the following criteria are some of the criteria that have to be met a) The person must have been exposed to a traumatic event involving actual or threatened injury or death during which they responded with panic, horror and feelings of helplessness. b) They re-experience the trauma in the form of dreams, flashbacks, intrusive memories or unrest at being in situation that remind them of the original trauma. c) They show evidence of avoidance behaviour d) They experience physiological hyperarousal as evidenced by insomnia, agitation, irritability or outbursts of rage.

Health Impact

There are several impacts on health from being the victim of a drug assisted sexual assault or rape. Firstly the actual assault or rape may have caused physical injury to the body – including cuts, bruises and more serious injuries that will require treatment. Secondly the substance used for the spiking may have an impact on the victims health in the short term. For example if the victim has been plied with high levels of alcohol they may feel extremely nauseous and physically ill for a number of days after the event.

In terms of sexual health there are a number of checks that will need to take place. The victim will have to undertake a range of sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests to ensure that they have not been infected by the perpetrator. Whilst many of these tests can take place fairly quickly a test for HIV will take six months to give the all clear to the victim. Obviously even if all these tests are clear the process itself can be very distressing and emotional for the victim. This is obviously increased considerably if a victim is informed that they have acquired an STI from the perpetrator. They will then have to undergo treatment in the short, medium and long-term depending on the specific infection they have.

6 If the victim realises that they have been sexually assaulted or raped soon after the event they may take the morning after pill to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Alternatively pregnancy testing will be something that the victim will have to consider. Again simply participating in the test can be very traumatic with the victim having to consider the possible responses. If the result is positive the victim will have to be supported to make the decisions that is right for them. Whatever the result of the test the victim will need support to deal with the emotions and feelings that taking a pregnancy test under such circumstances will produce.

Male sexual assault and rape

It is important to note that men are often the victims of sexual assault and rape and are therefore also at risk of drug assisted sexual assault.

Spiking for other motives

There are a number of other reasons why spiking takes place. Firstly there is a common trend to use spiking as a way to humiliate or embarrass someone and make them look a fool in front of other people. The perpetrator can be someone who has a grudge or grievance against the victim and wants to humiliate them or simply someone who enjoys being in control. Alternatively the perpetrator(s) may be an individual or a group of people who enjoy spiking victims and sitting back and enjoying the effects. The victim unknowingly takes their spiked drink and then as the effects hit them they may fall over or knock things over and then panic as the effects of the substances take hold, all of which brings entertainment and hilarity to the perpetrator(s)

Additionally a simple use of spiking is to enable thieves to steal property from victims. They spike a target and then as the substances start to take an effect they steal a bag, coat or car keys. The victim is too busy dealing with the effects of the drug to notice their property has disappeared and the perpetrator has ample opportunity to get away. Whatever the motive for spiking the way to protect yourself is the same. Therefore it is important that young women have the skills and knowledge to minimise their risk from spiking whatever the motive.

Sirens.. Pilot Programme

A sessional worker for the Sirens.. project was employed in early 2003. She has been instrumental in bringing life to the project and offering new views and ideas. A workshop was put together on Sirens… aimed at delivery within youth centres across Wrexham. This workshop offered an opportunity for groups of young women to talk about their fears around spiking, learn accurate information and share ideas about reducing their risk. The programme was run as a pilot to see whether the interest or need in the community was there and also to see how the session could then be taken into more social environments. During the session the young women were given a range of promotional materials including leaflets on Sirens… and a pen and a key ring. The key ring was designed with a bottle opener attached so that young people who were drinking in the streets or at house parties could open their own bottles and therefore have control 7 over what they were drinking. These proved to be very popular additions to the activity and acted as an aide memoir to young people when socialising – connecting what they had learned in the session to their real activities.

8 Statistical Information

This information gives details of who attended the sessions.

Youth Centres Numbers in Percentage of total attendance Garden Village 12 16.4% Gresford 10 13.7% Johnstown 6 8.3% Pentre Maelor 4 5.5% Rhos Detached 5 6.8% Holt 2 2.7% Rhos 11 15.1% Voluntary Youth Organisations Bettisfield 4 5.5% The Venture 8 10.9% Plas Madoc Youth 11 15.1% Partnership TOTAL 73 100%

9 Sirens… activity questionnaire

This questionnaire completed by 44 of the 73 participants (60.3% return) offered the following contribution to the evaluation.

Number of young Numbers responding Percentage of total people who thought session was GOOD 36 81.8 % OK 8 18.2% BAD 0 0 TOTAL 44 100% Was the size of the group GOOD 34 77.3% OK 10 22.7% BAD 0 0 TOTAL 44 100% Was the length of time GOOD 33 75% OK 9 20.5% BAD 2 4.5% Were the instructors GOOD 41 93.2% OK 3 6.8% BAD 0 0 TOTAL 44 100%

10 Young People’s Voices

Young people who took part in the sessions were asked to evaluate the sessions and offer suggestions for its improvement. Here are a selection of the responses.

What was the best thing about the Sirens… activity?

“Learning about getting your drinks spiked” “Learning about the drugs involved and what they can do” “Learning stuff such as do not have a shower if you have been raped” “Learning all the stuff that we did- like finding out what to do if you did get spiked” “Learning that when you go out keep an eye on your drinks” “The dangers…,” “We were discussing what had happened in our past” “Learning about the drugs and learning to take precautions” “Talking” “learnt a lot about date rape” “You get to know things that you didn’t know before” “Knowing all the facts about the drugs and what it does” “To make sure you stay safe” “How your drinks are very easy to be spiked” “The free stuff” “I got to understand things clearly and I’ve learnt a lot” “learning different advice” “fun and learning”

What was the worst thing?

“talking about people who don’t know what happened to them” “hearing the terrible things that can happen to young people” “Nothing”

How could the pens / key rings be improved?

“Key rings should be smaller and made of metal so they don’t break.” “Key rings should be funkier” “Pens are nice as they are”

11 Additional evidence of need

An additional pie of research was undertaken in July / August 2003. Two groups of young women were asked a series of questions about their drinking and socialising and their awareness of drug assisted assault and spiking.

The sessions took place in a relaxed atmosphere and the young women involved were briefed on the meaning of confidentiality and were told that the evidence used from the discussion would be used in a report and also would inform the development of the Sirens... project.

GROUP ONE The first group consisted of twenty young women aged between twelve and sixteen years of age.

Question one Where do you socialise in your community?

Park 12 60% Friends houses 18 90% Bus stop 9 45% Back of garages, back of businesses (sheltered, undeveloped ground) 15 75%

Question two Where do you get access to alcohol?

Buy from shop 4 20% Take from home / friends homes 9 45% Older friends, relatives buy from shop and give to you 15 75% Turn up at meeting place and buy alcohol off friends, 18 90% older young people etc. Turn up at meeting place and wait to be offered a drink from friends 18 90%

Question three Have you ever accepted a drink from a young person you did not know?

Yes 18 90% No 2 10%

Question four Have you ever accepted an opened drink from someone when socialising?

Yes 18 90% No 2 10%

Question five

12 Do you know what drug assisted assault or spiking is?

Yes 17 85% No 3 15%

Question six What is spiking? Sample of responses: “Drink that has a drug put into it by someone” “ When someone tries and gets you drunk or out of it by putting stuff in your drinks”

Question seven Why do people spike drinks? Sample of responses: “ To get girls to relax so they can tap off with them” “To get people drunk or whatever so they can rape them or rob from them” “To get you in a state where they can take the piss out of you”

Question eight What is used to spike drinks? Sample of responses: “Drugs” “ Stuff that they buy off the Internet or from sex shops” “Alcohol that they can’t taste”

Question nine What kind of person spikes? Sample of responses: “Anyone – it could be anyone” “Strangers or people who don’t like you”

GROUP TWO The second group consisted of twenty young women aged between eighteen and twenty- four years of age.

Question one Where do you drink alcohol?

Pubs in town 19 95% Pubs where I live 19 95% Clubs in town 17 85% At my house or friends houses 19 95% Don’t drink alcohol at all 1 5% In the park or other similar place 10 50%

Question two

13 Where do you get access to alcohol?

Buy from shop 19 95% Buy at pub or club 19 95% Get given alcohol at parties, social gatherings 19 95%

Question three Have you ever accepted a drink ( alcoholic or non – alcoholic) from a person you did not know?

Yes 15 75% No 5 25%

Question four Why have you accepted drinks from people you do not know? Sample or responses: “If you are in town and you haven’t got a lot of money it is a way of getting a few drinks. A friend of mine goes to town and has a competition to see how many drinks she can get bought for her” “Men buy you drinks because they think it is impressive but if you are not interested the drink won’t change your mind” “ If you fancy someone and they offer you a drink and then you say no it looks as if you are saying get lost so it is difficult isn’t it?” “If you are out with a group of friends sometimes a few people you don’t know very well turn up with someone else in the group. If they buy a round it would look rude to say no wouldn’t it.”

Question five Have you ever accepted an opened drink from someone when socialising?

Yes 20 100% No 0

Sample of responses: “Its worse at people’s houses cause they pour out the drinks from bottles and stuff. At a bar you can see the person pour the drink and give it to you. At a party you don’t”

Question six Do you know what drug assisted assault or spiking is?

Yes 17 85% No 3 15%

Question seven What is spiking? Sample of responses:

14 “When drugs are slipped in your drinks” “ When a man drugs you in a pub”

Question eight Why do people spike drinks? Sample of responses: “ To have sex with women” “To get you to do whatever they want” “So they can get away with raping you”

Question nine What is used to spike drinks? Sample of responses: “Drugs” “Rohypnol I have heard of… but probably lots of stuff” “Alcohol”

Question ten What kind of person spikes? Sample of responses: “Men who like to control you” “People who want to humiliate people”

From this research it is clear that although the young women involved in the discussions had some idea of what spiking was most of them still were happy to accept drinks from strangers. They also showed that they felt it was safe to accept opened drinks from friends and relatives and saw drug assisted assault as a crime perpetrated by strangers.

15 The next phase of the project

The following centres will be targeted over the next three months (September to December 2003)

Brynteg Garden Village Llay Marchwiel Queen’s Park Rhos Rhostyllen Victoria Youth Centre

Centres that have not so far been approached will be targeted in early 2004 ( January to March)

The future of the project

The sessions delivered as workshops in youth centres have been improved with the addition or Sirens.. specific word searches, cross words and quizzes. The content of the sessions is being updated and will cover a wider range of areas connected to drug assisted assault. The merchandise is being reviewed in partnership with young people.

A referral form (see Appendix A) will be completed by the Sirens.. worker after every session delivered in a youth centre or project. The referral form is a tool to inform relevant Youth Service projects of the information that we have learnt from the sessions. Obviously as the sessions are confidential no names will be mentioned or identifying information provided. However after each session the worker will review if there were any particular areas of concern that need to be addressed. With the nature of the sessions and the evidence gained from the pilot of Sirens.. we anticipate that any information will be connected to substance misuse and sexual health and information. Therefore a referral from will be sent to the Information Shop and Response so that it can be used to inform their work.

In addition a self-referral form (see Appendix B) has been produced which will be completed by any young person participating in the session who requires additional information or support.

Taking the next step

The workshop session will be condensed into a five minute intervention which will be delivered by the Sirens.. team on five nights in early 2004. This will then be evaluated to judge its success. In 2004 a strategy to take the project forward into more clubs and pubs will be designed after the team has had an opportunity to reflect on the success of the Christmas 2003 approach.

16 Wrexham Youth Service

Sirens… A Youth Service Partnership Project between the ‘Right 2 Respect’ Young Women’s Project and the Response Substance Misuse team ‘While u were sleeping…’

Project providing information on drug assisted assault and drink spiking for young women in the Wrexham area

I want more info…

Name………………………………………………… Address………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………… E – mail……………………….……………………… Phone /Mobile……………………………………….

I want more info on;

Sexual health…………………………….…………..

Substance and Alcohol use…………………………...

Any other issues?…………………………………….

17 Wrexham Youth Service

Sirens… A Youth Service Partnership Project between the ‘Right 2 Respect’ Young Women’s Project and the Response Substance Misuse team ‘While u were sleeping…’

Project providing information on drug assisted assault and drink spiking for young women in the Wrexham area

A Sirens… session was delivered in ………………………………………… Young Peoples Centre on……………………………………………………..

The following issues which were raised in the session are being forwarded to you for your information:

Sex/Relationships

Substance Misuse

Miscellaneous

18 Advertising Poster

19 Session advertisment

20 Booking Form