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Rape is a sad reality. And it can happen to
anyone.
Even you!
When secretly slipped into a beverage, even a glass of iced tea, sedating
substances can leave anyone vulnerable
to sexual assault. You may not be able to see it, smell it, or taste it. And you
don’t have to be at a bar or club. It could happen in any social setting. The
tragic fact is that the reasons for rape really have nothing to for with you. It
happens only because there are people
who wish to harm.
But there are some things that may help reduce your risk:
- Always
keep your beverage in sight.
- At
the bar or club, accept drinks only from the bartender or server.
- At
social gatherings, don't accept open-continer drinks from anyone.
-
If
you experience dizziness, extreme drowsiness, or other sudden and unexpected
symptoms, call someone you trust. Go to a hospital emergency room
immediately. Try to retain a sample of the beverage for testing.
If you think you’ve been sexually assaulted, call (800) 656-HOPE for a rape
crisis center near you, or call the police immediately. Don’t be afraid to
reach out for help. There are tests to help prove you’ve been drugged, and a
federal law that can put rapists in prison for 20 years.
So please, help reduce your risk!
Actions
to Take if You Think You Have
Been
Drugged And Sexually Assaulted
If you or a friends feels dizzy, confused or have other sudden, unexplained
symptoms after drinking a beverage, call a family member, friend, the police, a
doctor, or 911 for help in getting to a hospital.
Here are the steps you should take:
-
Get
to a safe place and call a rape crisis center for information or support.
For a toll-free rape crisis hotline, call (800) 656-HOPE.
-
Determine
whether or not to report the incident to the police. If there is any chance
you might want to report the assault, you should not
shower, bathe, douche, go to the bathroom (urinate or defecate), change
clothes, brush your teeth, eat, drink, or straighten up the area until
medical and legal evidence is collected because these actions will destroy
evidence.
-
If
you want to report the incident, first call the police and then go to the
hospital for medical attention which includes evidence collection.
-
Go
to a hospital, clinic or private doctor for treatment of external and/or
internal injuries, tests for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and
support services.
-
Request
a urine test as quickly as possible to detect the presence of sedating
substances. Every hour matters. Chances of getting proof are best when the
sample is obtained soon after the substance has been ingested, but depending
on the substance used, tests can be reliable even on a sample obtained 72
hours later.
-
If
the urine tests results are to be used in court it is important that the
urine sample be obtained at a hospital or through law enforcement. Remember
that some local or state labs may have limited testing capabilities and may
not be able to identify all drugs. To find out what drugs your lab can
identify, call your local rape crisis center or law enforcement office.
For More Information on Date
Rape Drugs
1-800-720-1076
YOU DON’T
HAVE TO BE ALONE
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