Source: Toronto Star (Canada) Pubdate: Tuesday, 4 August 1998 Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Author: Lisa Bassett, Young People's Press TERRIFYING FINISH TO FRIENDLY NIGHT OUT When I arrived with friends at a local Oshawa watering hole, I did not know the experience would change my life. I ordered a glass of white wine and turned to chat with some old pals from high school. After 45 minutes of catching up on their lives, I decided to get another drink to keep me cool on this hot summer night. At this point, I was joined by two guys, about my age, who were interested in what I was wearing and decided to use this to strike up a conversation. I excused myself to go to the washroom. This was my mistake. When I returned, the two guys were still standing beside where I had last left my drink. They smiled at me and kept on talking. I don't really remember the topic of conversation. After an hour had passed, I ordered another glass of wine, which I picked up from the bar. My high school acquaintances left at this point and I joined the friends I'd come with. My boyfriend had also arrived to join me for a drink. I was starting to feel an unusual alcohol buzz, unusual only because I had only just started my third glass of wine. We sat down on the couch to relax and I started feeling really drunk. My speech was slurred and I felt drowsy. The guys who were talking to me earlier paid me another visit. From this point, I only remember bits and pieces of the evening. According to my boyfriend, the guys would visit me whenever he was not around. Finally my boyfriend, who thought I was just really drunk, persuaded me to come and sit with him and his friends on the other side of the room. I could barely walk and sat with him for only a short time before announcing I had to leave. On the way to the car I commented that I couldn't see and began making remarks that were very out of character. Once home, I had to be helped into the house, where I passed out. The next morning, after more than eight hours of sleep, I tried to get up but felt really nauseated. Since I did not remember what had happened the previous night, I assumed I just had a bad hangover. I tried to get out of bed but collapsed on the floor. I struggled to my feet and stumbled down the hall toward the bathroom. I tried to shower, but fell and banged my head against the wall. At this point I decided to find my mom to tell her what had happened: Someone had put something in my drink. I went back to bed, upset and crying, scared that someone looked at me and thought, ``I want to do more than just talk to her. I want to drug her and rape her.'' I couldn't believe a night that began with old friends getting together for a few drinks could end like this. - --- Checked-by: "Rich O'Grady"