At home and abroad, us travelin’ ladies have so many things to stay aware of: how to dress for certain places we want to visit, which type of birth control options we have overseas, and above all, what sort of measures we need to take to stay safe in our journeys.
Date rape is a very real occurrence all over the world, and it is super important to educate yourself about it. Knowledge is power baby, and we here at Go! Girl Guides want you to be a fearless, empowered woman who can travel with informed confidence.
What you need to know:
- Date rape drugs are rather self-explanatory in their use. People use these drugs to aid in forms of sexual assault—all of which boil down to the same thing—sexual advances of any kind that the other party does not consent to/is incapable of consenting to.
How are they given?
- Date rape drugs are most commonly administered in combination with alcohol, which intensifies the effects of the drugs thus also acting as a potent (and potentially fatal) chemical. So, always always watch your drinks to mitigate the risk of being drugged unknowingly.
- Common club drugs take the form of white powders, small pills, and liquids. They can turn drinks cloudy and salty to the taste.
Types of Drugs
There are three prominent drugs that are found around the world in cases of “drug facilitated sexual assaults.”
- Rohypnol. Some common street names of this are: La Rochas, Mexican Valium, Mind Erasers and Roofies. Rohypnol kicks in about 30 minutes after it is ingested. You will look drunk, have trouble standing, slurred speech, nausea, and a strong feeling of drowsiness. Rohypnol is NOT legal in the US. However it is used in over 60 European and Latin American countries as a prescribed sleep aid.
- GHB. This stands for Gamma Hydroxybutyric. Some common street names are: Cherry Meth, Liquid E, Bedtime Scoop, and Salty Water. GHB is a very strong nervous system depressant. It begins to affect the body 15 minutes in and can last up to 6 hours. If you have been given GHB you will feel intense relaxation, problems seeing, tremors, and nausea. GHB is very potent and can induce a coma that lasts up to two hours. This makes it especially dangerous because of the lack of any memory of events that occurred. This drug was only made legal in the US recently to treat narcolepsy.
- Ketamine. Some common street names include: Cat Valium (it is used with animals) Special K, Jet, and Black Hole. This drug is super-fast acting and you will be quasi-aware of what is happening but unable to move due to a loss of coordination and a distorted perception of sights and sounds. Using Ketamine can feel like an out of body experience, as if you are in a dream. It is legal in the US and primarily used at veterinarian clinics.
How do I stay safe?
While this list can seem a bit disheartening; remember that you are a strong woman! Education on the subject combined with some golden rules of female travel will ensure that you can still go out for a night on the town and remain safe.
- Go out in groups or at least pairs; always watch out for each other.
- Do not ever leave your drink unattended at a bar or nightclub.
- Don’t accept drinks from strangers; we know the mysterious Spaniard down the way is hot…but err on the side of caution!
- Watch the bartender make your drink if possible. A bit of a stretch, but it is a great idea. I have actually been on the other side of this situation. As a bartender in the past I was slipped cash, a pill, and a look from a man instructing me on who it was going to. This was scary on all levels and obviously did not occur. However, be aware, this happens and money talks to many people and does not get lost in translation.
- If you are out and something suddenly does not feel right, tell someone. If you have a feeling you have been drugged, tell someone immediately and stick close to those you know and trust.
