Pubdate: Wed, 14 Jul 2004
Source: Oakville Beaver (CN ON)
Copyright: 2004, Oakville Beaver
Contact:  http://www.haltonsearch.com/hr/ob/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1600
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rohypnol (Rohypnol)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/GHB (GHB)

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE

We applaud and support the efforts of Sexual Assault and Violence 
Intervention Services (SAVIS) of Halton and NRG/ Kingdom to provide 
information to young people about the reality of date-rape drugs.

With the introduction of all-ages evenings at most clubs, the crowd that 
heads out to seek a little weekend night life has become younger than ever.

Unfortunately, not all of those out enjoying the club scene are as street 
wise as they need to be.

SAVIS is hoping to enlighten club patrons to the dangers of inadvertent 
drug use at the hands of strangers. The common culprits -- sedatives 
Rohypnol and GHB -- can be slipped into a drink and are virtually undetectable.

Low doses of GHB can result in lowered inhibitions, a feeling of euphoria, 
calmness, drowsiness, dizziness and amnesia. High doses may cause 
confusion, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors seizures, 
shortness of breath, loss of consciousness and even coma.

Sounds fun, doesn't it?

Meanwhile Rohypnol produces drowsiness, dizziness, memory loss, muscle 
relaxation, impaired thinking and poor motor coordination. It can also 
produce aggressive behaviour. It is absorbed in the body very quickly after 
consumption with effects occurring after about 20-30 minutes. It is 
commonly referred to as the date drug because of its ability to sedate a 
victim and leave them with memory loss of what happened to them.

If SAVIS' first weekend at NRG is any indication, educating a youth 
audience bombarded by the heavily-marketed sexuality of pop stars such as 
Britney Spears is not going to be an easy sell.

A spokesperson for SAVIS reported some patrons in the 13-16 year old range 
responded with vulgar remarks when the subject of safe sex was mentioned at 
an information booth SAVIS had set up inside the popular nightclub last 
Saturday night.

SAVIS's Lyndsay Daniel said she was taken aback by how much skin was being 
revealed by many of the teens in the crowd.

"Seeing what we saw Saturday night only reinforces we need to get out 
there," she said.

Hopefully more clubs that host adult and all-ages evenings will be as 
receptive to SAVIS' education program as NRG has been.
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MAP posted-by: Thunder