Date Rape Drug Causes Havoc for Women and Children
Friday, August 01 2008 | Comments (0)
Millions of this toy was recalled
for having amounts of GHB...
Sometimes truth is indeed stranger than fiction. In a November 2007 online article with the headline “Toy Contaminated With ‘Date Rape’ Drug Pulled” on CNN.com, US officials had recalled millions of a toy made in China called Aqua Dots because it contained gamma-hydroxy butyrate, aka GHB aka “The Date Rape Drug”. US Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman Scott Wolfson reported this important news to CNN.
But besides appearing as a coating on children’s toys, it is very prevalent on the college campuses across the country. It makes it appearance in the hands of rapists who are looking to spike an unsuspecting girl’s drink so she will be incoherent enough to have his way with her.
Morgan Spurlock’s first 30 Days episode chronicled the story of a soccer mom who was desperate to curb her college daughter’s binge drinking. Her method was to binge drink herself for a full thirty days, which ran counter to her former active and healthy lifestyle.
“GHB is this drug that in low doses actually causes euphoria”, reported Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a CNN top medical correspondent, in the Chinese toy article. “In higher doses, it can cause people to go into a coma. And it can cause people to become amnesic, which is why it became a date-rape drug.”
Gamma hydroxy butyrate, aka GHB
On a federal website geared for women’s safety, www.4women.gov, GHB is effective because it can come in the form of a liquid that has no odor, a white powder or even a pill. Combined with the wild revelry and binge drinking activities on the site of many college parties, if a woman is not careful, she can have this dangerous drug slipped into her drink and find herself in a bad situation.
In addition to seizures, GHB can cause drowsiness, blackouts, dizziness, and vomiting and even death. GHB, although very harmful in the wrong hands, was recently legalized to treat sleep disorders. Other date rape drugs like Ketamine, and Rohypnol are not legal in the United States.
One of the ways women can protect themselves are to keep an eye on their drinks at all time, never drink from large open containers like punch bowls, and don’t accept drinks from other people. GHB sometimes has a salty taste, so women are also advised to be aware of any funny tastes to their drinks.
Another preventative measure is to not drink to get drunk. Michiel, the desperate mom on the 30 Days episode heard stories from young ladies who had to watch their backs and their drinks so they wouldn’t get taken advantage of. If a trace amount on a children’s toy could cause so much damage, just imagine what a significant amount in a women’s drink will do.
Considering her daughter’s wild drinking habits, Michiel had every right to be afraid for her daughter’s safety.
For more information on the Date Rape drug, click here
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