Pubdate: Tue, 16 Mar 2004
Source: Eyeopener, The (CN ON Edu)
Copyright: 2004 The Eyeopener
Contact:  http://www.theeyeopener.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3150
Author: Suzanne Ma

OAKHAM TRIES TO STOP DATE RAPE

The dangers of date rape drugs haven't gone away, but the only sign warning 
students about them has disappeared from Ryerson's campus pub.

Oakham House manager Dale MacNichol said he called Ryerson Security on 
Friday and asked for the sign to be put back up. He only noticed it was 
missing after a call from the Eyeopener last week.

"I didn't know it had been taken down, but I've asked it to be reinstated. 
It's my responsibility to keep students out of harm's way because there are 
people who are twisted," MacNichol said, referring to attackers who use the 
date rape drug to prey on others in a pub.

Rohypnol, the most common of date rape drugs, has also been called the 
"Forget Pill," "Trip-and-Fall," and "Mind-Erasers." Combined with alcohol, 
it can induce a blackout and is often accompanied with memory loss and 
temporary paralysis.

The drug has been linked to sex assaults across the United States and 
Canada from as early as 1996. It can start working almost immediately, 
causing victims to feel dizzy and disoriented before falling into a trance 
and passing out.

The drug is usually used at bars, clubs and parties, leaving its victims 
with no memories of what happened while under its influence. It is 
tasteless, colourless and odourless, making it virtually undetectable if a 
drink is spiked. Women have reported being raped after being sedated with 
Rohypnol, which was slipped into their drink by an attacker. They can be 
tested within 72 hours to know if the drug is in their system by providing 
a blood and urine sample.

In 1998, several University of Toronto students filed reports with campus 
police after experiencing symptoms similar to those induced by Rohypnol. 
Suspected cases of the drug have also been reported at the University of 
Manitoba, McGill University, and McMaster University.

MacNichol said Ryerson Security is responsible for posting ads and notices 
on the bulletin board in Oakham House. The poster warning about the date 
rape drug used to be mounted on the wall along the staircase leading down 
into the Ram in the Rye pub.

MacNichol said he met with Ryerson Security and Ryerson's Health Promotions 
office in October 2002 when the school was planning to distribute coasters 
that detect date rape drugs.

But the coasters were pulled a week before they were to be handed out, 
after media reports cited a study by the Michigan State Police Crime Lab 
claiming the coasters didn't work with dark coloured or citrus drinks.

The coasters were created by Florida-based Drink Safe Technologies and have 
test areas that are meant to change colour when exposed to drinks that have 
been contaminated with.

MacNichol didn't know how the coasters worked, or why they were pulled from 
Ryerson's campus last year. But he believes they would be helpful in 
promoting awareness about the dangers of the drug.

Ryerson's health promotions nurse Allison Burnett said that spreading 
awareness about the drug is an on-going, continuous process.

Health Promotions helps host an annual Alcohol Awareness Forum where date 
rape drugs are discussed. Each term, O'Keefe House holds a sex workshop 
that also educates students about the dangers of the drug.

"We didn't want people to get the idea that if they use the coaster, 
they're completely safe. People should be taking other precautions," said 
Burnett. "[They] shouldn't be leaving their drinks unattended. They should 
leave them with friends. They shouldn't be accepting drinks from people 
they don't know."

Ryerson nutrition student Shawna Duck learned about date rape drugs five 
years ago after watching a television news report. She said she always has 
at least two friends with her when she goes out to a club or a bar.

"It's really scary because you're never sure who's doing what in the bar 
scene," said Duck. "It's crowded and it's easy for anyone to slip something 
into your drink, and then people [with the date rape drug] can easily take 
advantage of you."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom