Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jul 2003
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679
Author: Susan Duncan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?158 (Club Drugs)

UNATTENDED DRINK CAN LEAD TO HORROR

For young women today, going to a nightclub is a risky venture. It's 
difficult to understand people who would tamper with someone's drink, but 
that's what is happening all too frequently these days.

It's happened in Kamloops, though not in the numbers that the problem is 
occurring in Vancouver. However, the same precautions should be taken in 
small cities that are taken in metropolitan centres. People can't be too 
careful.

Vancouver Police have launched a public information campaign warning women 
about attacks that begin primarily in nightclubs and restaurants. In the 
past three months, police have investigated 24 cases in which a date rape 
drug was slipped into a woman's drink.

Gamma hydroxy butyrate is a tasteless, odourless drug, which, at worse, can 
kill a person, but usually makes one feel intoxicated. It's an anesthetic 
and central nervous system depressant. People who consume the drug lose 
co-ordination, have difficulty concentrating and experience blackouts.

Women are raped with no ability to do anything about it and have trouble 
helping people catch the offender because they have so little memory about 
the details from the evening in question.

In Vancouver, police are introducing a coaster and poster campaign in 
likely locations for the drug, as well as putting warnings in the media and 
on Web sites, warning people to take extra care when they consume alcohol 
in public places.

Women can no longer leave their drink unattended while they go to the dance 
floor or to the washroom. It's a risk that could result in terrible 
consequences. It's a public awareness campaign that will have to spread to 
other communities until people realize the date rape drug is a threat not 
to be taken lightly.

Kamloops women may think they are immune because they live in a relatively 
safe place. They can't take the risk. Have fun, but be careful and don't 
let your drink out of your sight.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom