Date Rape Drugs BIOCHEMISTRY BYLINE September 1998

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Date Rape Drugs BIOCHEMISTRY BYLINE September 1998 Dr. Robert Meatherall Toxicologist Biochemistry Laboratory (204) 237-2259 A date rape drug is a sedative which is administered by an acquaintance to an unsuspecting female to obtain non consensual sex. The drug is most often mixed with an alcoholic beverage, which when consumed causes antegrade amnesia with some degree of drowsiness through to unconsciousness. Alcohol works synergistically with these drugs to enhance the sedative effect. The two date rape drugs which have received media attention over the last year are gamma- hydroxybutyrate and the benzodiazepine flunitrazepam. Neither drug is marketed in Canada or the United States. Other benzodiazepines such as triazolam, diazepam, lorazepam and alprazolam can provoke amnesia and have been used in the past for the same purpose. All of these drugs are short acting, and are quickly eliminated renally from the body. Drug Typical Dose Duration of Effect Post Dose Detection (mg) (hours) Interval (hours) flunitrazepam 2 6 – 12 6 – 18 gamma- 2000 0.5 – 3 1 – 8 hydroxybutyrate Based on published urine excretion information and the detection limits of our screening procedures, it is estimated that an average 2 mg dose of flunitrazepam would be detected between 6 and 18 hours following its ingestion. An average 2 g dose of gamma-hydroxy butyrate would be detected between 1 and 8 hours post dose. No dosing experiments have been conducted at this laboratory to confirm the anticipated detection times. In order to detect both of these agents in the same specimen, urine must be obtained within 6 hours of the victim regaining consciousness. When submitting the urine specimen to the Biochemistry Laboratory, clearly indicate that this is an investigation for date rape drugs. Specific procedures are used by the laboratory to detect these drugs. A general drug screen does not detect their presence in urine. .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Chapter 3 Drug/Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault
Chapter 3 Drug/Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault “No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.” ~ P.J. O’Rourke (1947- ) American humorist & journalist OBJECTIVES FOR THIS CHAPTER . Increase awareness and knowledge about alcohol, drugs and sexual assault . Understand the link between alcohol and sexual assault . Know the appropriate actions to take if a drugging is suspected ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT: AN INTRODUCTION1, 2 “I woke up and I wasn’t in my bed. I had no idea how I had got there, or if I have been with someone. I wondered what had happened to me, and I wondered why I couldn’t remember…” Alcohol and drugs are often weapons used by perpetrators to facilitate sexual assault. With all the news about predatory drugs, we sometimes forget that alcohol is the most common drug associated with sexual assault. Since alcohol is cheap, readily and legally available, and common among adolescents and young adults, it is important to understand the connection between alcohol and sexual assault. Note: Alcohol does not cause sexual violence nor does it give an offender an excuse to commit a sex crime. 1 Quinn, Kathleen M. “Drugs and Sexual Assault: A Dangerous Mix.” Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault Fall 2002 Coalition Commentary (Fall 2002.) Web. 23 September 2010. 2Predatory Drugs: Don’t Let Your Guard Down. Saint Louis Park, MN: Bacchus & Gamma. 2002. Print.
[Show full text]
A Date Rape Drug
MOJ Toxicology Short Communication Open Access A contemporary facet on rohypnol: a date rape drug Abstract Volume 4 Issue 1 - 2018 Rohypnol is the common name for a drug called Flunitrazepam, the slang term used Priyanshu Jain, Navjot Kaur Kanwal is roofies. Rohypnol is believed to be most commonly used drug in commission of drug Department of Criminology and Forensic Science, Dr. H.S Gour assisted Sexual assaults in the United States, the United Kingdom, and throughout Europe, Central University, India Asia and South America and very popular in clubs and rave parties. This drug being colourless, odourless and flavourless is simply slipped in a drink, or mixed in any food Correspondence: Navjot Kaur Kanwal, Department of supplement without being suspected and is used to robe, rape or harm people therefore Criminology and Forensic Science Dr. H.S Gour Central infamously called as Date rape drugs. It is a strong hypnotic, a sedative ; an anticonvulsant; University, Sagar, India, Email [email protected] an anxiolytic ; an amnestic ; and skeletal muscle relaxant. Present paper concisely states about the effects of such drugs, scenarios, attempts to explore various analytical methods Received: December 04, 2017 | Published: January 08, 2018 available & challenges regarding its analysis posed before the toxicologist and law enforcing authorities. This communication has been sourced from scientific literature available in electronic databases and traditional literature available. Keywords: rohypnol, hypnotic, sedative, central nervous system, toxicologist Introduction One of the infamous drug among Date rape drugs, a Benzodiazepine which is a central nervous system depressant. Roche (a healthcare and Date Rape drugs usually applies to the drugs that renders us pharmaceutical company) started selling flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) in incapable of saying no, it causes sedation, impaired motor skills, 1975.
[Show full text]
Date Rape Drugs in Sexual Assaults: a Threat to Indian Society
European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine ISSN 2515-8260 Volume 07, Issue 07, 2020 Date Rape Drugs in Sexual Assaults: A Threat to Indian Society Gaurav Singh1, Pratik Singh2, Piyush Jyoti3 1Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Forensic Science & Toxicology Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab 2,3Students of M.Sc. Forensic Science, Department of Forensic Science & Toxicology Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab Email: [email protected] Abstract: The increasing cases of sexual assaults and rape worldwide have made it very challenging for the various nations to deal with it. We are witnessing a huge technological advancement all over the seas. But so far, we have not been able to find any proper solution to deal with these types of crimes. If we talk about India, one of the fastest growing crimes are rape and sexual crimes of women and children. Rape is prevalent in both rural as well as urban areas, and now the cases of sexual assaults are being increasing in the group of high class and literate people. One of the major reasons for that is the increasing drug and alcohol abuse, which have a direct relation with increasing cases of sexual assault cases in the nation. About 70% of the sexual assault cases in India are reported which is committed while the Accused, victim or both are under the intoxication of some kind of drug or alcohol. The use of one such drug called the ‘Date Rape Drugs’ is becoming very prevalent in India. These drugs are used for exploiting the victim for the drug facilitated sexual intercourse.
[Show full text]
Triazolam Impairs Avoidance Reaction-A Scientific Proof Why the Victim Does Not Escape from Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assaults
orensic P F sy f c o h l o a l n o r g u y o J Journal of Forensic Psychology Shimizu et al., J Foren Psy 2016, 1:2 ISSN: 2475-319X DOI: 10.4172/2475-319X.1000108 Research Article Open Access Triazolam Impairs Avoidance Reaction-A Scientific Proof Why the Victim does not Escape from Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assaults Keiko Shimizu1*, Tomohiro Ohmura2, Katsuhiro Okuda1, Masaru Asari2, Hiroshi Shiono1 and Kazuo Matsubara2 1Department of Legal Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka-Higashi, Asahikawa, Japan 2Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Kyoto University Hospital, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan *Corresponding author: Keiko Shimizu, Department of Legal Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Midorigaoka Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan, Tel: 81 166 682433; Fax: 81 166 682439; E-mail: [email protected] Received date: Mar 8, 2016; Accepted date: Jul 6, 2016; Published date: Jul 13, 2016 Copyright: © 2016 Shimizu K, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract Following closely behind levels in Western countries, the number of drug-facilitated sexual assaults (DFSAs), involving the illicit use of medicine, has been recently increasing in Japan. Tirazolam is the most frequently used date-rape drug in DFSAs occurring in Japan. In this study, the effect of triazolam on behavior in response to fear and anxiety was evaluated using an elevated plus-maze test in mice. Triazolam-treated animals (0.01 mg/kg) showed no significant difference in total locomotor activity compared with vehicle-treated mice (controls).
[Show full text]
Cell Surface Mobility of GABAB Receptors Saad Bin
Cell surface mobility of GABAB receptors Saad Bin Hannan September 2011 A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University College London Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT UK Declaration ii ‘I, Saad Hannan confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been indicated in the thesis.' ____________________ Saad Hannan September 2011 To Ammu, Abbu, Polu Abstract ivi Abstract Type-B γ-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABABRs) are important for mediating slow inhibition in the central nervous system and the kinetics of their internalisation and lateral mobility will be a major determinant of their signalling efficacy. Functional GABABRs require R1 and R2 subunit co-assembly, but how heterodimerisation affects the trafficking kinetics of GABABRs is unknown. Here, an α- bungarotoxin binding site (BBS) was inserted into the N-terminus of R2 to monitor receptor mobility in live cells. GABABRs are internalised via clathrin- and dynamin- dependent pathways and recruited to endosomes. By mutating the BBS, a new technique was developed to differentially track R1a and R2 simultaneously, revealing the subunits internalise as heteromers and that R2 dominantly-affects constitutive internalisation of GABABRs. Notably, the internalisation profile of R1aR2 heteromers, but not R1a homomers devoid of their ER retention motif (R1ASA), is similar to R2 homomers in heterologous systems. The internalisation of R1aASA was slowed to that of R2 by mutating a di-leucine motif in the R1 C-terminus, indicating a new role for heterodimerisation, whereby R2 subunits slow the internalization of surface GABABRs.
[Show full text]
Date Rape Drugs Are Used on Date Rape Both Females and Males
F REQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ber what happened while you were drugged. Date rape drugs are used on Date Rape both females and males. The three most common date rape drugs are: Drugs • Rohypnol (roh-HIP-nol). Rohypnol is the trade name for Q: What are date rape drugs? flunitrazepam (FLOO-neye-TRAZ- uh-pam). Abuse of two similar drugs A: These are drugs that are sometimes appears to have replaced Rohypnol used to assist a sexual assault. Sexual womenshealth.gov abuse in some parts of the United assault is any type of sexual activity States. These are: clonazepam (mar- 1-800-994-9662 that a person does not agree to. It can keted as Klonopin in the U.S. and TDD: 1-888-220-5446 include touching that is not okay; put- Rivotril in Mexico) and alprazolam ting something into the vagina; sexual (marketed as Xanax). intercourse; rape; and attempted rape. These drugs are powerful and danger- • GHB, which is short for gamma ous. They can be slipped into your hydroxybutyric (GAM-muh heye- drink when you are not looking. The DROX-ee-BYOO-tur-ihk) acid drugs often have no color, smell, or • Ketamine (KEET-uh-meen) taste, so you can’t tell if you are being drugged. The drugs can make you These drugs also are known as “club become weak and confused — or even drugs” because they tend to be used pass out — so that you are unable to at dance clubs, concerts, and “raves.” refuse sex or defend yourself. If you They go by many street names: are drugged, you might not remem- Rohypnol is also known as: Circles R-2 Rope Forget Pill Rib Rophies LA Rochas Roach Ruffies Lunch Money Roach-2 Trip-and-Fall Mexican Valium Roches Whiteys Mind Erasers Roofies Poor Man's Quaalude Roopies page 1 U.S.
[Show full text]
Types of Sexual Assault
TYPES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT What is Rape? Rape is non-consensual sexual contact. The law makes many distinctions among the types of sexual contact and the level of force used to obligate a victim to have sexual contact. There are many types of sexual abuse and assault. Acquaintance Rape (Links to place on the page below) Marital or Spousal Rape Stranger Rape Multiple Assailant / “Gang” Rape Drug-Facilitate Rape Child Sexual Abuse and Assault Incest Often, survivors of any type of sexual assault experience similar reactions to the trauma. This collection of reactions is called Rape Trauma Syndrome. Acquaintance Rape Acquaintance rape is a sexual assault crime committed by someone who knows the victim. Here are some facts about acquaintance rape: · It can happen any time and any place · The rapist may be a date, neighbor, boss, colleague, delivery person, repair worker, spouse or anyone else you know. Rapists are not usually strangers. Studies show: Over 80% of rape survivors were assaulted by someone they knew. 47% were raped by dates. · One in four college women were victims of rape or attempted rape while they were students. Eight-four percent of them knew the rapist. Fifty-seven percent of the rapes happened during a date. (Dr. Mary Koss, researcher at Kent State University) · Acquaintance rape is rarely reported to police. Less than 2% of acquaintance rape victims reported the assault; 21% of women raped by strangers report the crime to police. · Twelve percent of college men reported that they had physically restrained a woman to gain sexual advantage. REMEMBER: Date rape can occur despite all precautions.
[Show full text]
Appendix D: Important Facts About Alcohol and Drugs
APPENDICES APPENDIX D. IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT ALCOHOL AND DRUGS Appendix D outlines important facts about the following substances: $ Alcohol $ Cocaine $ GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) $ Heroin $ Inhalants $ Ketamine $ LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) $ Marijuana (Cannabis) $ MDMA (Ecstasy) $ Mescaline (Peyote) $ Methamphetamine $ Over-the-counter Cough/Cold Medicines (Dextromethorphan or DXM) $ PCP (Phencyclidine) $ Prescription Opioids $ Prescription Sedatives (Tranquilizers, Depressants) $ Prescription Stimulants $ Psilocybin $ Rohypnol® (Flunitrazepam) $ Salvia $ Steroids (Anabolic) $ Synthetic Cannabinoids (“K2”/”Spice”) $ Synthetic Cathinones (“Bath Salts”) PAGE | 53 Sources cited in this Appendix are: $ Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Facts Sheets1 $ Inhalant Addiction Treatment’s Dangers of Mixing Inhalants with Alcohol and Other Drugs2 $ National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s (NIAAA’s) Alcohol’s Effects on the Body3 $ National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA’s) Commonly Abused Drugs4 $ NIDA’s Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help5 $ National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Library of Medicine’s Alcohol Withdrawal6 $ Rohypnol® Abuse Treatment FAQs7 $ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Keeping Youth Drug Free8 $ SAMHSA’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality’s (CBHSQ’s) Results from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables9 The substances that are considered controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) are divided into five schedules. An updated and complete list of the schedules is published annually in Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) §§ 1308.11 through 1308.15.10 Substances are placed in their respective schedules based on whether they have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, their relative abuse potential, and likelihood of causing dependence when abused.
[Show full text]
DATE RAPE DRUG FACT SHEET Rohypnol (Roofies)
DATE RAPE DRUG FACT SHEET Rohypnol (Roofies) Street Names Uses Roofies, Ruffies, Roche, R-Z, Rib, Rope, The most Stupify, Shays, Roachies common and concerning • Rohypnol is the brand name of a sleeping pill abuse is use by and is a benzodiazepine (Valium is also a rapists, who benzodiazepine). slip the drug • Rohypnol can be addictive. into a victim’s • Rohypnol is taken orally as a pill or dissolved drink (usually alcohol) before raping or sexually in liquids, often with drugs or alcohol. assaulting them. Rohypnol leaves the victim • Rohypnol is not marketed in the United helpless, and blocks the memory of a rape or States and it is a felony to possess this drug sexual assault. in the US. It is marketed in Mexico, South America, Europe, and Asia. Get help! Side effects If you think you may have been drugged or sexually assaulted, help is available. Contact the • Can be addictive Health and Wellness Center or call the National • Decreased blood pressure Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-HOPE. • Loss of memory • Tiredness Sources • Problems with vision • Dizziness and confusion “Date Rape Drug Fact Sheet: Rohypnol and GHB”, Office of • Nervousness Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, Harvard University • Aggressive behavior “How to Prevent Drug Induced Rape”, Pamphlet by Palm Side effects begin approximately 30 minutes Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Florida. after taking the drug and peak within two hours. The effects can last for up to 8 hours, “Gamma Hydroxybutyrate”, Wothington, E., Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Florida. depending on how much is taken. When taken with alcohol or any depressant drug, Rohypnol can cause death.
[Show full text]
Information About Date Rape Drugs
Date Rape Drugs Information provided by the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/date-rape-drugs.cfm Help IS available. Please contact Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services at 909-621-8202 for assistance and support. You may reach the on-call therapist after hours by contacting Campus Safety at 909-607-2000. For additional resources, please see Important Information About Sexual Assault and How to Help a Friend After a Sexual Assault. What are date rape drugs? These are drugs that are sometimes used to assist a sexual assault. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to. It can include touching that is not okay; putting something into the vagina; sexual intercourse; rape; and attempted rape. These drugs are powerful and dangerous. They can be slipped into your drink when you are not looking. The drugs often have no color, smell, or taste, so you can't tell if you are being drugged. The drugs can make you become weak and confused — or even pass out — so that you are unable to refuse sex or defend yourself. If you are drugged, you might not remember what happened while you were drugged. Date rape drugs are used on both females and males. Is alcohol a date rape drug? What about other drugs? Any drug that can affect judgment and behavior can put a person at risk for unwanted or risky sexual activity. Alcohol is one such drug. In fact, alcohol is the drug most commonly used to help commit sexual assault.
[Show full text]
Prevention of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assaults
Prevention of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assaults A notable increase has occurred in recent years in the frequency of drug-facilitated sexual assaults. The victims of these sexual assaults (most frequently women) are often older adolescents and young adults at bars, nightclubs, rave clubs and social parties. The Use of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assaults Alcohol It is important to bear in mind that the use of recreational drugs to facilitate rape and sexual assault is not a new phenomenon. Having been used almost as long as recorded history, alcohol remains the most widely used date rape drug. “Date Rape” or “Predatory” Drugs The use of “date rape” or “predatory” drugs has become increasingly prevalent. As these drugs have become more sophisticated in their effectiveness, they have been used more frequently to facilitate rape. They are increasingly used as “knock-out drugs” to render female victims helpless and amnesic. The typical tactic for committing drug-facilitated sexual assaults is to ship the drug unknowingly into the drink of a female. The victim usually loses consciousness in a short period of time, and often has no memory of the event. Rohypnol Rohypnol is Hoffman-LaRoche’s registered trade name for Flunitrazepam, a benzodiazepine drug in the same family of medications as Valium and Xanax. It is manufactured in Switzerland and is legal in 64 countries as a prescription drug for sleep disorders and psychiatric cases. It is 10 times more potent than Valium. Rohypnol has never been approved for any medical use in the United States. It is illegal to manufacture, distribute, or possess Rohypnol in the United States.
[Show full text]
House Bill Report Hb 1016
HOUSE BILL REPORT HB 1016 As Passed Legislature Title: An act relating to hospital notification of availability of sexual assault evidence kit collection. Brief Description: Concerning hospital notification of availability of sexual assault evidence kit collection. Sponsors: Representatives Caldier, Cody, Griffey, Mosbrucker, Maycumber, Macri, Jinkins, Slatter, Shea, Van Werven, Irwin, Fitzgibbon, Appleton, Wylie, Doglio, Robinson, Chambers, Orwall, Stanford, Rude, Frame, Leavitt, Walen and Young. Brief History: Committee Activity: Health Care & Wellness: 1/22/19, 2/1/19 [DP]. Floor Activity: Passed House: 2/7/19, 96-0. Senate Amended. Passed Senate: 4/15/19, 46-0. House Refused to Concur. Senate Insists on its Position. House Concurred. Passed House: 4/24/19, 94-0. Passed Legislature. Brief Summary of Bill Requires a hospital that does not perform sexual assault evidence kit collection or does not have an appropriate provider available, to notify any individual who presents at the emergency department requesting a sexual assault evidence kit collection that it does not provide the service, and to coordinate care with the local community sexual assault agency to assist the patient in finding a facility with an appropriate provider available. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS –––––––––––––––––––––– This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. House Bill Report - 1 - HB 1016 Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 14 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Macri, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Caldier, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chambers, Davis, Harris, Jinkins, Maycumber, Riccelli, Robinson, Stonier, Thai and Tharinger.
[Show full text]