The Three Major Groups of Drugs Used in Date Rape

The Three Major Groups of Drugs Used in Date Rape

Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate or GHB, ketamine and Rohypnol are tagged as three of the most common drugs used in date rape. The first two are called as major groups for date rape drugs while Rohypnol belongs to the third group known as benzodiazepines.

Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate or GHB

GHB is more popularly known as a depressant for the central nervous system. However, the use of this drug group has been abused because of its capabilities to bring hallucination and euphoric feelings to its end users. Others also think that this can help in muscle growth thus classifying it as an anabolic steroid.

GHB used to be manufactured and sold in the US. But during the 1990s, overdoses of the liquid had been noted causing it to be classified as an illicit drug. In 2002, the UK government classified it under the Class C illegal drug.

Since then, GHB was given other names like Georgia Home Boy, Grievous Bodily Harm and Great Hormones at Bedtime. This is also called as the Liquid X or Liquid Ecstasy or the Easy Lay. While it is popular in gyms, it cannot be denied that these date rape drugs are also popular in clubs. In the year 2000, the US’s Drug Abuse Networking reported around 4969 emergency hospital visits due to GHB. This is 10% larger than ecstasy that recorded emergency hospital visits of 4,511 only.

A lot of people complained of a variety of GHB adverse effects. Included in their list of complaints are hallucinations, sedation and silliness. Slurred speech, mental awareness difficulties and loss of bladder control is also common in other individuals. Its effects can last in between 1 to 3 hours.

Ketamine Hydrochloride

Simply known as the ketamine drug group, this anesthetic is popular in veterinary practice especially in making surgical operations for small animals. Before being known as a date rape drug, this was also used in humans for pediatric burn cases. It is popular in the fields of experimental psychotherapy and dentistry. It is commonly used when making intravenous or intramuscular injections.

Now, ketamine is one of the major drug groups used for date rape. It is known to produce disassociative anesthesia effects in people who make use of it. It is also being classified as a recreational drug that produces a somewhat separating effect to the body and mind. It can result to a near-death experience for an individual who takes it in large doses. Some may experience rapture, boredom or paranoia. When a victim takes 15 mg/kg of ketamine, the end result is coma.

Ketamine as a date rape drug is called as Ket, K, Special K, Vit K or Kit Kat by its users. Its effect takes place within 5 to 20 minutes after using the drug and can last up to eight hours.

Benzodiazepines

This date rape drug category was once used as sleeping pills or tranquilizers. It includes Xanax, Lexotan, Librium and Valium among others. It also includes Rohypnol on its list.

Around one to two milligrams of Rohypnol is commonly used as a benzodiazepine by individuals who are around 50 kg in weight. Two to four milligrams of the drug is required for people with more than 50 kg of weight.