How to protect yourself from the date rape drug

An alarming rise in the use of a drug called Rohypnol or "roofie" has been reported across the country. Known on the street as a "love drug," a roofie is a potent tranquilizer - several times stronger than valium. It's tasteless and odorless. When sprinkled in someone's drink, sedation occurs in about 20 minutes to half an hour ans lasts for several hours. The effects are similar to alcohol: Muscle relaxation, slurred speech, slowing of motor skills. But there is one notable exception: The drug produces amnesia as well. There have been several reports of young women waking up in frat houses or other unfamiliar surroundings, without clothes on, having been sexually assaulted but not remembering a thing. (As of the writing of this book, the manufacturers of Rohypnol have added a substance that makes the drug give off a blue tinge when dissolved in liquid.)

Roofies,also called ruffies, roche, R-2, rib, and rope, are now known on the street as the date rape drug of choice even though statistically they're present in the bloodstream in less than 3 precent of all reported rape victims.(Alcohol is still the major drug of abuse in this country - especially in date rape.) And the dangers don't stop there. When mixed with alcohol and other drugs, roofies can kill. Your breathing slows to such an extent that you stop breathing at all. To protect yourself:

Don't take any type of drug handed to you at a party.

Refuse a drink offered by a stranger.

If you should "wake up" and not remember where you've been, report it to the police immediately.As dangerous as roofies are, alcohol is still the number one date rape drug. More people have found themselves in dangerous situations due to alcohol than all other substances combined.