Date rape drugs have opened a new era in the frequency of sexual assault.
The drugs can be concealed easily and dropped into a drink without the knowledge of the victim.
Description of date rape drugs Any substance that prevents a person from functioning or understanding what is happening around him or her can be classified as a date rape drug.
There are many substances available but the three most common ones are Rohypnol, GHB and Ketamine.
The drugs are usually given to women unknowingly and usually by an acquaintance or someone the victim has dated.
Neither Rohypnol nor Ketamine has any scent or taste and can easily be slipped into a drink without the victim knowing.
The victim will usually black out and lose control of their bodily functions.
The effects may last for several hours and the victim will have no recollection what happened when they recover.
On the other hand GHB or Gamma Hydroxy Butrate is a synthetic drug whose main danger is lack of knowledge about the potency of each pill.
It works in the same way as Rohypnol and Ketamine though it may sometimes produce a salty aftertaste.
Effects of the drugs When a person has been given a date rate drug some of the symptoms they may suffer include the following:

• Breathing difficulty
• Temporary amnesia
• Lack of control over bodily functions
• Decreased heart rate

A person who is under the influence of one of the date rate drugs may be attacked physically or sexually without the ability to defend themselves or even have knowledge of any kind of attack.
The long term effects that follow a victim's experience with date rate drugs include the need for long-term counseling and treatment by a professional to overcome the personal crisis that follows when they learn they have been drugged.
They will live in fear for their safety and become withdrawn from friends, family and social settings because they are in such fear of the same thing happening again.
How to prevent date rape The majority of people who become victims of date rape drugs are on a date, in a bar or within the confines of a college campus.
By educating yourself and becoming familiar with the signs that you may be in risk you can take steps that will allow you to prevent becoming a victim of date rape.
View any stranger who brings you a drink as a potential predator and make it a practice to never accept drinks from a stranger unless you see the bartender making the drink and he or she hands it to you directly.
Never let your drink out of your sight even if you are going to the restroom-ask a trusted friend to watch it for you.
If you haven't had much to drink but feel extremely inebriated, you may have been drugged.
Before you lose all sense of control ask a trusted friend to help you or leave to obtain assistance.