Date Rape Drug: Types, Effects & What to Do

A date rape drug is when alcohol is secretly mixed with certain medications or drugs to quickly sedate someone. This can be used to make the person easier to assault, kidnap, or rob.

These substances can be mixed into a drink without noticeably altering its taste. Their effects may begin within minutes, causing the person to appear “drunk” while remaining unaware of what is happening.

Using a date rape drug is illegal and a crime. It tends to happen more often at parties, raves, or nightclubs and most commonly affects women.

Types of date rape drugs

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health, commonly reported date rape drugs include flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), and ketamine. Alcohol is the substance most frequently used in these assaults, either on its own or in combination with other drugs.

1. Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)

Flunitrazepam is a benzodiazepine with sedative, anti-anxiety, and muscle-relaxant properties.

In some countries, it is prescribed for the short-term treatment of severe insomnia. However, it is not approved for medical use in the United States and is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act.

Flunitrazepam has been misused as a “date rape drug” because it can cause drowsiness and impair memory within minutes of ingestion. 

2. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), also known as “liquid ecstasy,” is a drug of abuse with sedative effects. It can reduce brain activity within minutes after ingestion.

This substance used as a date rape drug is very dangerous because it can cause seizures, coma, or respiratory arrest and can be life-threatening.

3. Ketamine

Ketamine is an anesthetic and sedative typically used for short surgical procedures or medical procedures that do not require muscle relaxation.

It is sometimes used illegally as a recreational drug or as a date rape drug because it can cause sedation.

Effects on the body

The main effects of a date rape drug are:

• Slurred, slow, or mumbled speech;

• Nausea;

• Marked drowsiness;

• Reduced ability to think clearly and slower reflexes;

• Loss of muscle strength;

• Decreased attention;

• Poor judgment about what is right or wrong;

• Reduced awareness of what one is saying or doing.

In addition, it is also common for the person to fall into a deep sleep.

The effects can begin within minutes after ingestion and act directly on the brain by lowering its activity. Because of this, the person may not clearly recognize what is happening.

How long do the effects last?

The effects vary depending on the substance used and can last from 3 to 24 hours. Often, the person cannot remember what happened or may only have brief “flashes” of memory after drinking it.

How long it lasts depends on how much was used and how each person’s body responds.

The higher the dose, the stronger the effect, which may lead to cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest.

How to recognize

You may suspect a date rape drug when someone suddenly shows strong signs of intoxication after only one or two drinks, for example.

How to protect yourself

The main ways to reduce the risk of being targeted with a date rape drug include:

• Do not accept drinks from strangers at parties, bars, or nightclubs;

• Do not drink beverages that were not opened or unsealed in front of you;

• Do not leave your glass or bottle unattended on a table or with someone else while you go to the restroom;

• Look at the drink to see if it appears cloudy or has particles;

• Pay attention if the drink tastes unusual or different than expected.

It is also recommended to stay alert and hold your own drink while you still have liquid in it. This can reduce the chance that something is added when you are distracted.

Another way to lower risk is to go out with close friends or trusted people. That makes it easier to watch out for one another and stay safer in social settings.

What to do

If someone suspects they ingested a date rape drug, they should immediately tell a trusted person and go to the emergency room as quickly as possible, or have someone take them, so they can receive appropriate care. 

According to the Office on Women’s Health, medical care should be obtained right away and it helps to tell the clinician that drugging is suspected so appropriate toxicology testing can be performed.

If possible, bring the glass or remaining drink to the hospital for analysis.

Toxicology tests may be done to help identify the substance used, and it is also recommended to file a police report.