The “Date Rape” Drug Crisis Dilemma
Understanding the drugs, the symptoms, and the options when facing the possibility of drug facilitated assault
It’s a terrifying feeling unlike any other: The throbbing headache. The disorientation. The confusion. The dizziness.
The vulnerability
For individuals who are faced with the horrifying potential of being the victim of a ‘date rape’ drugging, the implications can be staggering. From the potential physical violation, to the possibility of sexual violence and assault, to possible long-term health ramifications associated with STDs or pregnancy, the list physical and emotional impacts are significant.
Unfortunately, many potential victims of the ‘date rape’ drug choose not to seek medical or legal help, typically out of fear or embarrassment. In a world where many victims of sexual assault or abuse are subjected to invasive, uncomfortable, and exhausting questioning or worse, victim blaming – these crimes often go unreported, despite their severity and overall impact.
The importance of understanding the types of ‘date rape’ drugs most often used, the variety of testing options to help identify the drug used, and the timeline for each testing method cannot be overstated. By understanding the options and completing a full Comprehensive Date Rape Panel Test, the victim is granted the ability to take their power back, identify what impaired them, and take the next steps in protecting their overall health.
Information On This Topic
Understanding Drug Testing Types, Methods And Specimen Collection
Examining the wide assortment of drug testing options available and exploring the potential pros and cons of each method
There are several reasons or circumstances that can lead to the necessity of a drug test.
Why do businesses need to randomly drug test employees?
“Pre-employment screening is not good enough to reduce drugs in the workplace as anyone can stop long enough to find a job… ”
“If your business doesn’t drug test, you will likely attract illicit drug abusers looking for employment…”
Why Do Businesses Need Random Employee Drug Tests?
Do you remember the last time you applied for a new job? Or perhaps you are a hiring manager at the business who has accepted many applications and interviewed potential hires. One common part of the hiring process is the pre-employment drug test. No matter what side of the process you are on, this drug test is designed to ensure that the company ends up with the best employees possible who will be able to perform their duties safely and successfully.
Ketamine, GBL, GHB, and Rohypnol are very powerful drugs. the drugs can affect the victim very quickly and you might not be able to tell that something is wrong. However, the length of time the effects last vary depending on how much of the drug is in the body. Moreover, it further depends on whether the drug is mixed with alcohol or other drugs. the effects of the drug become even stronger with alcohol, causing serious health problems and even death. Date Rape drugs can make a person pass out, cause trouble breathing, confusion, sleepiness, make the heartbeat very fast or slow, nausea or vomiting, trouble controlling or moving the muscles, slurred speech or problems talking and dizziness. Furthermore, alcohol or drugs can cause problems remembering what happened, making decisions, and thinking.
- More than 18 percent of women become victims of date rape at some point in their lives
- Whereas, 1 percent of men experience date rape.
- 37 percent of women who experience date rape are in college, aged between 18 and 24.
- 25 percent of the date rape cases reported are either committed by an ex-spouse, current or ex-boyfriend or girlfriend, or someone who is very close to the victim.
- Strangers are involved in rape in only 13.8 percent of the cases. 51 percent of the cases involve an intimate partner, moreover, 40.8 percent of the time an acquaintance is involved. Whereas, for the remaining 12 percent, a family member is a perpetrator.
- 55 percent of date rapes occur in the victim’s own home, whereas, 12 percent occur in an acquaintance’s or relative’s home.
Be prepared for your drug test:
- Bring your Government Issued Picture ID
- Bring Drug Test Paperwork or Authorization
- Complete TSL Intake Form & HIPAA Disclosure
- Pay for your Test on the same day it happens
- Make sure you are hydrated if you are performing a Urine Test
- Expect to have your nail polish removed if getting a Nail Drug Test
- We do not need your prescription information but a Medical Review Officer (MRO) may contact you after collection to verify your medications.
- For urine testing, plan on arriving 3 hours before we close (1 hr minimum) to provide a cushion of time for a shy bladder situation.
- For hair testing, be sure to dry your hair completely before arriving.
- For nail testing, be sure to clean your nails with soap and water before arriving. Also, artificial nails and polish must be removed.
What Are Your Hours?
All Test Smartly Labs are open Monday through Friday, from 9am - 5pm
The Overland Park Testing Center is also open from 9am – 1pm on Saturdays
Do We Need To Have An Appointment?
No appointment is required to come into our labs, and all of our locations are on a walk-in basis. However, it is recommended you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to closing. If your situation requires special time considerations, please call us to determine if it would be better to arrange an appointment time.
Do I Need Doctors’ Orders For Testing?
No doctors’ orders needed, we are a Direct-Access Testing Center. You are encouraged to consult your medical professional with your lab test results.
What’s The Turnaround Time For Lab Work?
Average turnaround time is 2-5 business days depending on the complexity of the lab work. Most tests are available in 2-3 days.
Do You Need A List Of My Medications For A Drug Test?
Per protocol, the lab techs are not allowed to receive or ask for your medications. A medical review officer or MRO, a licensed physician who specializes in toxicology, will call you and ask for your medications and your physician’s phone number if it’s detected in your sample during testing. The MRO will then call your physician to verify your medications.
Understanding ‘Date Rape’ Drug Testing Options and Timing
On average, one American is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds, according to RAINN, and nearly 12% of those assaults are through the use of a ‘date rape’ drug. If you suspect at all that you or someone you know has been impaired by a variety of the ‘date rape’, it is important to know that discrete and confidential testing options are available to you.
Through the use of the broad-spectrum Comprehensive Date Rape Panel, a trained lab can narrow down or identify the drug used to impair the victim. Why is the broad-spectrum Comprehensive Date Rape Panel necessary? Unfortunately, there is an incredibly wide spectrum of potential drugs that can be used to assault an individual, rendering them unable to defend against, protect from, or consent to the actions being inflicted upon them. These drug panels can be ordered and tested discretely either with or without visiting a hospital or medical center, and typically use blood, urine, or hair as the testable sample. The Comprehensive Date Rape Panel is available at Test Smartly Labs. Timing is of the essence, however, when identifying the potential use of a ‘date rape’ drug. From the time of consumption, the body will typically process the ‘date rape’ drug within 12-28 hours – after which it will become increasingly difficult to identify the chemical used to impair the victim. In other words, time is of the essence in identifying the ‘date rape’ drug potentially used.
Identifying the Most Common ‘Date Rape’ Drugs
While there is a wide variety of ‘date rape’ drugs that go by a wide variety of names such as roofies, Mexican valium, circles, roaches, easy lay, liquid x, or G, almost all varieties of the drugs can be differentiated into two specific types.
Rohypnol:
Primarily a sedative and a muscle relaxant, Rohypnol can cause amnesia, loss of inhibitions, loss of muscle control, paralysis, and loss of consciousness. Previously manufactured as a white tablet that was both odorless and colorless and easy to slip into a drink, more recent versions of the pill are designed to turn a drink blue when added to liquid, however, generic versions of this pill do not provide the same blue marker as the brand name drug. The physical impact of this drug can occur in minutes, and the effects can last for 8-12 hours. In addition to the effects previously mentioned, rohypnol can cause dangerously low blood pressure, aggressive behavior, and extreme confusion. This type of ‘date rape’ drug is often associated with severe discomfort after the disarming effects wear off, including light sensitivity, muscle pain, numbness and tingling in extremities, and difficulty urinating.
GHB:
Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, or GHB, is widely considered the most common type of ‘date rape’ drug. Creating a subdued, physically depressed, and hypnotic state, GHB can cause memory loss, extreme drowsiness, loss of muscle control, seizure like symptoms, slowed heartbeat, low blood pressure, and in some instances, can leave the victim in a coma. With the symptoms of the drug taking effect within fifteen minutes and lasting anywhere from 1-3 hours, most individuals experience total recovery within eight hours. GHB can be distributed through pill or liquid form, and when combined with alcohol, can cause death.
Understanding Your Next Steps
The most important thing to understand is that this violation is not your fault. Beyond testing for potential drug facilitated sexual assault through the use of a ‘date rape’ drug, speaking to a trained professional can help start the healing process. Contacting an organization such as the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800. 656.HOPE (4673) can help you identify your next steps and provide you with a support system to navigate the days ahead. Being the potential victim of assault through the use of the ‘date rape’ drug can be scary and leave you feeling vulnerable, but with the proper steps, you can regain your power and help put an end to future assaults on other individuals.
For more information “Date Rape” drug testing, contact Test Smartly Labs…
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