In light of recent rumors regarding the use of date rape drugs at a party, Major David James of ULPD offered some advice about being aware of the risks they pose to the university community. James also provided some basic facts about how they are used in Louisville.
“The big drug that is used quite often in Louisville is a drug called GHB,” he said.
It’s clear, it’s odorless, and quite often the predator will take it an put it in a Visine bottle, so when the person is dancing or talking or had their back turned to their drink, they just walk by and squirt and keep walking,” said James. “All of a sudden they just start feeling like they have been hammered by like 15-20 beers.”
After this, he said, the victim is usually told by the predator to step outside and get some fresh air.
“Once they have you outside, all sorts of things can happen from there.”
GHB is different from Rohypnol, commonly called ‘roofies,’ which was once the drug most used as a date rape drug. Rohypnol now contains a chemical block which turns blue when placed into liquid, and has caused it to fall into disuse as a date rape drug.
“It is not the popular drug for doing that anymore. Catamine and GHB are the two primary drugs that are most commonly used for that kind of thing right now,” he said.
James said that ULPD encourages students to watch their drinks carefully and be aware of the situation.
“We always try to emphasize to students and staff that if you are at a gathering and you leave your drink, do not walk away from it, do not turn your back to it. If you do, get a new one. Do not drink that same Coke that you left there 20 minutes ago.”
He said that everyone is at risk, telling a story of a recent night out in which a friend of his had a drug slipped into her drink just a short time after arriving at the bar. James said that this occurred even after they had a conversation about the risks of date rape drugs.
“It can happen to anybody at any time, and people should understand that.”
