"ROHYPNOL: A NEW TWIST TO AN OLD STORY"

Date: Friday, January 15, 1999
Presented by: Linda Greenway, RN McMaster University Krista Warnke, Public Educator Sexual Assault Centre

The Lunchtime Seminar scheduled for Friday, January 15 was cancelled due to inclement weather. However, we were able to reschedule this event for Friday, January 22. Despite the unavoidable change in plans, Krista and Linda were presented with a full room and an interested audience.

Krista began the presentation with an overview of current legislation relating to rape and sexual assault. In January 1983, the government modified the existing rape law by replacing "rape" with sexual assault. This change not only made the legislation gender neutral, but also opened up the definition of sexual assault to include any person who forces any kind of sexual activity upon anyone else. Another major change occurring in 1983 was the removal of the limitation, then in place, which effectively allowed men to rape their wives. After 1983 women could charge their husbands with sexual assault. There are three grades of sexual assault:

1. simple sexual assault, being any form of unwanted sexual activity, maximum sentence: 10 years.
2. sexual assault with a weapon, or by more than 1 perpetrator, or under the threat of 3rd party violence, maximum sentence: 14 years.
3. aggravated sexual assault, leaving the survivor wounded, maimed or disfigured, maximum sentence: life

Statistics indicate that 1 woman is sexually assaulted every 17 minutes in Canada, and that most perpetrators are adult men; most victims are women or children.

Some of the more prevalent myths about sexual assault are:

1. that a rapist is a sexually unfulfilled man,
2. that men who are sexually "turned on" cannot stop,
3. or that survivors "asked" to be sexually assaulted,
4. rapists are "creepy strangers" who hang out in parking lots or dark alleys.

Statistics also tell us that between 70-85% of sexual assailants are known to the victim, and that 60% of assaults occur in the home, usually the victims, with another common location being the assailants vehicle. Nor are attacks limited to nighttime, with almost 50% of sexual assaults and almost 20% or rapes occurring during the daylight hours.

Linda then turned attention to the topic of rape drugs, and in particular, Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine and Ecstasy. These drugs are available through the underground market and are used recreationally. It was stressed by both Krista and Linda that these drugs be understood as drugs used for rape, rather than as drugs which contribute to date-rape. An enhanced effect is achieved by mixing rape drugs with alcohol, making them popular in bars and nightclubs. This has not, however, limited their use to drinking-age individuals. Anecdotal evidence presented by Linda indicated that knowledge of these drugs exists among teens aged 14-15.

Rohypnol is known by a variety of street names: roofies, roachies, La Rocha, forget pill, pasta, peanuts, whitey, ropes, pappa, roshays, robinal. Although it produces a hangover effect that might last several days, no memory exists of its consumption, nor of the time spent under its influence. Its effects are felt 10 minutes after ingestion, which can take many forms (oral, snorted, smoked, injected) and are manifest by an impairment in judgement, loss of motor control, and an inability to speak clearly, leading many witnesses to assume alcoholic intoxication of the victim. The manufacturers of Rohypnol are now manufacturing the drug so that its presence in a drink can be spotted by colour, opacity and surface debris.

GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) aka grievous body harm, easy lay can be ingested in the same manner as Rohypnol and although it is colourless and odourless, it leaves a salty taste in a drink. It has been used legitimately as a general anaesthetic, to treat insomnia and as an aid in childbirth. As a legal substance, in the 1980s, it could be purchased over the counter in health food stores and was used by body builders. It was banned in the 1990s and is now produced in clandestine laboratories. It causes abrupt sedation, is excreted very quickly and is hangover free.

Ketamine (aka special K, ketalar, vetalar and ketaset) and Ecstacy, a psychodelic drug where also discussed. Ecstacy, which was developed as a diet aid, also heightens sexual awareness and produces a hangover effect that lasts for several days. [Its existence in the late-night rave scene has been relatively long-lived, unfortunately some of its users haven't been.]