Chapter 2
Date Rape Drugs
Most cases of sexual assault at Penn State involve the victim and/or the perpetrator voluntarily using drugs or alcohol. Drugs and alcohol can limit an individual's ability to give consent, including situations of incapacitation where individuals cannot give consent and understand what is going on. Further, we know alcohol limits your ability to understand if another person is able to give consent. Drugs and alcohol are not an excuse for assaulting someone and if you feel you or your partner has had too much to drink to be able to make a fully informed decision, you should wait to engage in any sexual activity.
Alcohol
Alcohol is the most common date rape drug on college campuses. Often perpetrators will provide alcohol to a potential victim with the intent to get the person drunk and incapacitated. A victim may be offered a drink where it is hard to detect how much alcohol is in it. In fact, in a recent study, 75% of perpetrators said they got their victim drunk in order to have sex with them. We also know that some perpetrators specifically look for individuals who are drunk and therefore vulnerable.
75%
of perpetrators said they got their victim drunk in order to have sex with them
Other common date rape drugs
Date rape drugs are specific drugs that are used to incapacitate someone for the purpose of committing sexual assault. Date rape drugs can easily be slipped into a drink without the potential victim knowing it. They are often tasteless, colorless, and odor free. The drugs can be put into any alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink, including soda or juice.
Common date rape drugs other than alcohol are:
- Ecstasy (also known as Molly, which can contain additives such as Ketamine, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine)
- GHB
- Ketamine
- Rohypnol (or Ruphies)
- Xanax
These drugs are particularly dangerous when mixed with alcohol because alcohol and all date rape drugs are depressants. They slow down the heart, lungs, and critical body functions. So, in addition to being vulnerable to assault, a person who has been given a date rape drug with alcohol may need emergency medical attention.
Side effects of date rape drugs
These drugs can cause dizziness, disorientation, loss of inhibition, loss of consciousness, and amnesia.