1. OTC and Prescription Drug Abuse Slideshow Pictures
2. Health Risks of Alcohol Abuse Slideshow Pictures

In this Article

• What are date rape drugs?
• What do the drugs look like?
• What effects do these drugs have on the body?
• Are these drugs legal in the United States?
• Is alcohol a date rape drug? What about other drugs?
• How can I protect myself from being a victim?
• Are there ways to tell if I might have been drugged and raped?
• What should I do if I think I've been drugged and raped?
• Patient Comments: Date Rape Drugs - Experience
• Find a local Doctor in your town
• Date Rape Drugs Index

• Don't accept drinks from other people.



• Open containers yourself.



• Keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom.



• Don't share drinks.



• Don't drink from punch bowls or other common, open containers. They may already have drugs in them.



• If someone offers to get you a drink from a bar or at a party, go with the person to order your drink. Watch the drink being poured and carry it yourself.



• Don't drink anything that tastes or smells strange. Sometimes, GHB tastes salty.



• Have a nondrinking friend with you to make sure nothing happens.



• If you realize you left your drink unattended, pour it out.



• If you feel drunk and haven't drunk any alcohol -- or, if you feel like the effects of drinking alcohol are stronger than usual -- get help right away.

It is often hard to tell. Most victims don't remember being drugged or assaulted. The victim might not be aware of the attack until 8 or 12 hours after it occurred. These drugs also leave the body very quickly. Once a victim gets help, there might be no proof that drugs were involved in the attack. But there are some signs that you might have been drugged:

• You feel drunk and haven't drunk any alcohol -- or, you feel like the effects of drinking alcohol are stronger than usual.



• You wake up feeling very hung over and disoriented or having no memory of a period of time.



• You remember having a drink, but cannot recall anything after that.



• You find that your clothes are torn or not on right.



• You feel like you had sex, but you cannot remember it.