Date Rape Drugs and Society
History of Rape and Drugs
Date rape drugs are drugs that are used during sexual assault (Weiss, 2017). Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to. It can include touching, putting something into the vagina, rape, and attempted rape. These drugs are very powerful and dangerous. These drugs are typically slipped in drinks and have no color, taste, or smell. They can make the victim weak, confused, or even pass out. These drugs can be used on males and females. Certain drugs cause memory loss. Date rape was introduced into public health parlance in the 1980’s to eliminate the myth that most rapes were done by strangers (Dude, 2017). Although the term date rape has become widely used, experts prefer the term “drug-facilitated sexual assault” (Weiss, 2017).
Rape is the “carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly, and against her will,” according to the longstanding definition that was first established in 1927 (Carroll, 2016). The FBI has since updated this definition to include penetration of the vagina or anus with any body part or object as well as oral penetration. Rape can also be defined as having someone watch or photograph you in a sexual matter, being exposed to someone else’s body, or spiking food and drinks (Brande, 2017). Any sexual act should be consensual. Many advocates for the rights of rape victims promoted the awareness that all sexual activity requires explicit consent from both parties (Dude, 2017).
History of Ecstasy
A less common date rape drug, ecstasy, was on the rise among youth in the mid-1980’s (Diamond, Bermudez, & Schensul, 2006). During that time the government initiated different media campaigns to inform the public of the hazards of ecstasy. The government was unable to stop the spread of ecstasy and by the mid-1990’s it had gone mainstream. In 1985, it was declared illegal. However, people still managed to get their hands on it and by 1998 ecstasy use had doubled because of the spread of the rave culture. Today, many songs can be found that contain good or bad things about ecstasy. Ecstasy is usually associated with kinky and promiscuous sex and money (Diamond, Bermudez, & Schensul, 2006). It has also been found to be linked to risky sexual behavior among gay men.
Current Date Rape Drugs
Rohypnol
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) is a pill that dissolves in liquid (Weiss, 2017). This drug starts working thirty minutes after taking it. It will last several hours. You can have slurred speech, difficulty standing, and might even pass out. If Rophynol is mixed with alcohol the drugs will be stronger. These pills have recently had a dye added to them to help protect victims from being drugged. Clear liquids will turn bright blue and dark liquids will become cloudy if a Rohypnol is present. However, there are still pills on the streets with no dye in them. Rohypnol can cause a large number of problems including memory loss, dizziness, nausea, and under extreme circumstances even death. Clonazepam (Klonopin) and Alprazolam (Xanax) are similar to Rohypnol. Rohypnol is a prescribed drug for sleep problems and anesthesia before surgery and is legal in Europe and Mexico.
GHB
Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) is a drug that comes as a liquid with no odor or color, a white powder, or a pill (Weiss, 2017). GHB may make the drink taste salty. This drug starts working in 15 minutes and can last three to four hours. This is a very potent drug and it is easy to overdose. GHB is made by people at home or in street “labs.” This drug is abused by teens at clubs, raves, and parties. GHB can cause seizures, tremors, vomiting, nausea, and may put you in a coma. In certain situations, it can cause death. However, it is legal in the United States and is used to treat narcolepsy.
Ketamine
Ketamine is a drug that comes as a liquid or a white powder (Weiss, 2017). This is a fast acting drug but it does not last very long. Ketamine makes you unable to move but still aware of what is happening. It causes memory loss. Ketamine makes you feel like your in a dream. You lose a sense of time and identity and can become aggressive and violent. This is a widely abused drug and is typically used for animal anesthesia in the U.S.
Other Drugs
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance when trying to rape someone (Weiss, 2017). It makes it hard to think clearly and tell when a situation is dangerous. It is hard to say no, set limits, and make good choices. Nearly half of all sexual assaults involve alcohol (Brande, 2017).
Chloral Hydrate is used to treat insomnia and anxiety (Winter, 2017). They come in capsule or liquid form. The capsules are stolen from pharmacies, while the liquid can be created from common household chemicals. The drug starts working within fifteen to thirty minutes and can last several hours. It has a bitter taste. The drug can make you nauseous, itchy, and confused.
Rapists
Rapists can be anyone. They could be a friend, a family member, or a complete stranger. However, rapists are primarily single males between the ages of fifteen and thirty (Carroll, 2016). They are very aggressive and have histories of violence or abuse. They are typically sexist against women. They have a big ego, lack empathy and blame their victims (Date rape, n.d.). People always wonder why they do what they do. In fact, most rapists reveal their motives through sex (Date rape, n.d.). There are four different types of rapists. There are Reassurance-seeking rapists (Haddock, 2012). These rapists are usually shy, a loner, and underachiever who can feel dominated by their partner. Anything can trigger these rapists to prove his worth. They often premeditate their crimes though. Power-seeking rapists need to dominate and have control (Carroll, 2016). They are typically very angry. These rapists believe that the women owe them sex (Haddock, 2012). Erotic-Aggression rapists are motived by sexual and aggressive fantasies (Carroll, 2016). They use either ritualism or sadism (Haddock, 2012). They usually pick vulnerable women. Finally, Retaliatory rapists are angry at the world specifically women. Once their rage is gone they may never rape again or until they have been angered again.
Theories
There are many theories as to why people rape. The Evolutionary Theory states that rape is rooted in human evolution because men need frequent mating to spread their seed, but women feel the need to protect their eggs (Carroll, 2016). The Sociological Theory states that rape is an expression of power. When men feel disempowered, they use their masculinity to regain control. The Feminist Theory states that rape occurs in our society to keep women in their place. This reinforces the idea that men are supposed to be strong, aggressive, and assertive, while women are to be slim, submissive, and passive. Some people look at rape as an illness while others look to play the victim. The Rapist Psychopathology Theory states that men rape because of mental illnesses, uncontrollable sexual urges, or alcoholic intoxication. People believe that if these sick individuals are found and rehabilitated then the rape rate will decrease. The Victim Precipitation Theory states that the victims make themselves vulnerable to rape because of how they dress and act. This theory shifts the responsibility from the person who attacked the victim to the innocent. Men tend to believe more in theory.
A new theory links personality and the situation to rape (Date rape, n.d.).Those who rape are sensitive and when they get rejected it hurts. Physiologists refer to this as a reactance in which that individual feels his freedom has been limited. Once it is limited the rapist will by any means get what they desire.
Solutions
In the last twenty years, rape reports have increased ten percent (Arnold, 2014). People have noticed and have been working to prevent rape. Here are some ways to decrease the number of rapes that occur. Do not accept drinks from others, open your own container, do not leave your drink, and if you feel drunk without having drunk any alcohol, seek medical attention (Weiss, 2017). If you wake up feeling confused or disoriented after a night of drinking and have no recollection of what happened, feel pain, or have torn clothes you could have been raped (Villines, 2017).
Unfortunately, people will not always feel sorry for the victims (Girard & Senn, 2008). A common belief in North American society is that women are responsible for any sexual interactions. However, it is never the victim’s fault (Arnold, 2014). Rapists are the only people responsible.
Many companies have been creating products that will test drinks for drugs (Arnold, 2014). Some college students created a nail polish for a class project in which the color would change revealing the presence of drugs. However, it has not been FDA approved. Drink Safe Technologies created a coaster that has test strips which will change color int he presence of Ketamine and GHB. However, not all drinks will react
Conclusion
Date rape drugs such as Rohypnol, GHB, Ecstasy, Alcohol, Ketamine, and Chloral Hydrate are drugs people use to sexually take advantage of someone. The use of date rape drugs has contributed to the startling facts that approximately 238,000 Americans over the age of twelve have been raped or sexually assaulted and nearly one-fifth of American women report being raped at some point in their lives (Arnold, 2014). These drugs contribute to some of the dangers we have in society today, and it is important to watch for indicators of their use so that people can take the correct procedures to ensure their safety and security.
References
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Carroll, J. L. (2016).Sexuality now: embracing diversity. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
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Dude, A. (2017, November 07). Date rape. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/
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Girard, A & Senn, C. (2008). The role of the new “date rape drugs” in attributions about date
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Villines, Z. (2017, December 25). Date rape drugs: Symptoms, side effects, and protecting
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Weiss, S. (2017, April 28). Date rape drugs. Retrieved from https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-
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Winter, T. (2017, March 20). What are all the date rape drugs to be concerned about?
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