Testing for Date Rape Drugs

On Independence Day, somebody somehow slipped a pill into my wine glass at a dinner dance, and I left about three minutes before it really hit. In my attempt to walk home, I substantially overshot my house without noticing and could barely organize my limbs to turn back around. I spent the rest of the evening vomiting and trying to keep the floor from spinning away.

It may sound like I was drunk, but I am familiar with the effects of alcohol, and this was more like waking up from surgery. I felt as if someone had stuffed my brain with cotton and strapped me to a tilt-a-whirl. I passed out, thankfully in the safety of my own bed. In the morning, I could barely stand at all, or change the position of my body without vomiting.

My father had been at the party (an inter-generational, family event where previously I'd have said you'd more likely find a grandparent's dentures in your glass than a pill), and had the pleasure of waking up at 7 am to take his drugged out thirty-two year old daughter to the hospital. He had to stop on the way over so I could vomit.

My father is a nice man, and a lawyer, and was eager for my toxicology screens, which would allow us to build a case against my assailant. We were astounded to be told no such screens existed for legal drugs, nor for Rohypnol, the most well-known date rape drug. (That turns out not to be true.) We were quite pushy about this, and still got nowhere. Marijuana they could test for, the doctor explained, but for drugs commonly used as a rape weapon, the tests simply did not exist. She mentioned one that they could theoretically send out, but refused to do so, because it would only test for "a handful out of maybe thirty different possibilities," and cost $5000.

Date rape drugs are a weapon. Drugging someone is assault (poisoning), and obviously used to commit far greater crimes. Testing for these drugs, or at least the most common among them, should be standard hospital procedure in situations like this, and as easily available as tests for drugs that are themselves illegal. The fact that there are tests for marijuana and not the various sleeping pills used to knock out unsuspecting women reflects very poor priorities on the part of our medical establishment. By making the crime of drugging someone prosecutable, these tests would surely have a preventative effect, clearly a public health benefit. The legal benefits are obvious.

When I got home I Googled "date rape drug testing" and quickly found this $399 hair test, which luckily I can still use. Since I have no idea what I consumed, I don't know if anything will turn up, but the real point is that the hospital didn't appear to know about it either, or have a faster test to offer, and that is wrong. Even if there are thirty or so possibilities, clearly some will be more common than others. Evidence of one would allow me to build a case and press charges, preventing the person from doing it again.

The Southern Maine Medical Center is a decent hospital, and my ER doc was another young woman who I'm sure believed me, and cared. She explained that my physical health was her concern; the legal implications of failing to collect evidence of whatever was in my system were not. So I suspect their failure to offer me available testing was a failure of ignorance, not malice, but it doesn't matter.

Thank goodness my credibility in our community is good, and all of the people who matter believe me. But what if I had a reputation for lying? What if I had had a whole lot more to drink at that dance, and gotten still more messed up -- after people saw me drinking too much? (In that situation, I could also have died, depending on the pill.) What if I were sixteen and not used to the effects of alcohol? Would everyone believe me then? It's not clear, and I would have no recourse. I might even doubt my own experience. What would not change is the fact that a crime has been committed against me, and without physical evidence, there is probably nothing I can do about it except write an essay.

That is not justice.

Comments

[shameonthatman]

If this was a problem with men there would be more done about this crime. Everyone has told me I should report it to the police and I keep saying they can't do anything, because I can't prove anything. Well I have deceided that enough is enough and it is time to start a movement and bring more attention to this crime. I have started a blog titled "FIGHT AGAINST DATE RAPE DRUGS". This is a serious crime and the men that committe them are no better than the rapist that attacks women on the street. It is time for all women to come together and bring attention to this crime against women. It may not happen to you, but it could happen to your daughter, neice, granddaughter or a friend. It is real, it is happening and it has to be stopped.

[shameonthatman]

I am sorry to say this recently happen to me also. What I have since learned is that if you think you have been druged go to the hospital and do an urine test. But this has to be done before you use the bathroom. These druges do not stay in your system that long and maybe the reason why it hard to test. Because of the fact that I know my body I knew if I kept drinking that drink I was going to be really messed up. I poured my drink down the sink and went home. It was only after getting home and feeling like I was drunk and sick I realized that I had been druged. I am not a drinker and first I took one sip and it was strong. I then added more juice to the drink that was made for me by me so call friend. After adding more juice I took another sip. I felt like those sips went straight to my head. I sat down, held my drink for about 30 minutes and then took another sip. I poured the drink down the sink and left. On my way home I got confused and didn't know where I was. I got myself together and made it home. It was only after being at home and feeling like I had been drinking all night and about to throw up did I realize I had been druged.

[Callyson]

Sophia, I am so sorry this happened to you. I am glad you are safe now.
I did want to respond to the end of your post here, where you say "a crime has been committed against me, and without physical evidence, there is probably nothing I can do about it except write an essay." I want you to know that this essay has done the world a lot of good, because up to now I had assumed that these tests were widely available in hospitals. Now, if this ever happens to me I know that I have to be very pro-active in demanding a test or finding one on my own rather than depend on a hospital, and every other reader has that same awareness. Thank you so much for writing this, and I hope to see more of your writing in the future.

[WonderWomanGoddess]

I'm sorry this happened to you. I really think you should talk to your lawyer father about filing a suit against the hospital, and doctor, which were clearly negligent. It is so common for them to be in these situations and you are correct, it is unjust. It sounds like you have the means to fight it and might feel better if you did.

As to not being believed, you are right! So many women aren't believed for so many reasons, although this is so common. If you've been raped previously, people won't believe you. Too young, had a drink…any excuse to doubt. This is more dangerous than people realize also (some idea that this is non-violent seems to pervade) but not only is it often times ‘violent’ aside from rape, but also, I nearly died from a neurological reaction to a date rape drug. Nothing comes close to it besides anesthesia.

For everyone else who has had to go through this, I would recommend asking for a rape advocate at the hospital. Most cities have them, and they are trained the help you. They can help a lot in fighting the police and hospitals after the event. If the hospital won't call one for you, call your local rape crisis center hotline and they will get one for you. They are free, and work on a volunteer basis.

[Kasado]

This would happen less if people got off their self-righteous high horses and just made prostitution legal

[rubysecret]

WTF are you talking about?! This woman was drugged.

[Kasado]

But why was she drugged?

[kagenin]

You're making the assumption that acquiring date-rape drugs is more expensive than buying a legal hooker.

And what's the dissuade people from using date-rape drugs on hookers to keep from paying? Is that any less deplorable?

[sodium]

Kasado said: "This would happen less if people got off their self-righteous high horses and just made prostitution legal"

HUH?!

You got to be kidding me.

No one can possibly make such an absurd comment and mean it.

[Kasado]

Stop injecting your own fears, anger, and bias into my statement. Men are using these drugs to gain forced sex from women only recently, while women have been using s ex as a weapon of leverage since forever. In this senerio, a prostitute is the most honest and most truthful exploiter of s ex.

[rubysecret]

Kasado said:
"You should read the article. It's about date rape drugs.
She just left before the effects took effect.
Sex=Prosti­tution-Rap­e, Understand?"

Sex equals prostitution minus rape.
Now I understand your world view perfectly.

[jarnan]

wondering why aren't the drug companies mandated to make all potential date rape drugs taste bitter or off flavor. Once the drug dissolves in a drink-it will be bitter and undrinkable. Ofcourse this way only the legal drugs would be controled/safe but make the job of perverts more difficult and they have to rely only on illegal drugs at great risk of being caught.

[poster]

"I am familiar with the effects of alcohol" Do tell! "Marijuana they could test for" Did you pass?

[Lixfer]

And your point is....?

What a ridiculous and judgmental comment!

[rubysecret]

Right. Because the entire point of this article is to satisfy your prurient interest in this woman's drug history. This prevailing attitude is a very big part of the problem - that a segment of the population doesn't take seriously the epidemic of assaults on women.

[kagenin]

Marijuana doesn't fit with the symptoms.

Under which rock do you reside?

[Acleacius]

Glad your safe.

This is exactly why women need to take self defense and young girls should start learning as soon kindergarten. Not that the ability to physically defend yourselves would have helped in this instance BUT certainly Awareness & Preventative Defense could have helped.

Just like women should Never go into a parking lot alone at night, they should Never go to a party alone, Never. At the very least, calling friends and/or family when your about to leave or make it back home, even if your considering going home with someone you meet and Most importantly Someone at that party should know who this person, if a girl intends to leave with someone.

It should be possible to have your blood drawn and stored to be sent for testing in the future, if say you had gone to the hospital early on Saturday or Sunday when only interns whom are as experienced as department heads which can be contacted during regular business hours. Certainly in your case having your attorney at your side claiming it will be needed for evidence would probably be all the muscle you need to get it drawn and stored. Couldn't hurt.

[DKLabRat]

"She explained that my physical health was her concern; the legal implications of failing to collect evidence of whatever was in my system were not. So I suspect their failure to offer me available testing was a failure of ignorance, not malice, but it doesn't matter."

I find this an incredible statement for a doctor to make. How can finding out what drugs were put into a patient's system be unconnected with their health? Or general health? What if the person who put the drugs into your system is some kind of serial pervert and the hospital is about to have a mini epidemic of similiar cases? Wouldn't it help to know what they were looking for when another patient presents with similar symptoms? And would the hospital have the same policy for rape kits? By this doctor's standards they have nothing to do with the patient's health either.

I think your doctor was simply busy that night and couldn't be bothered. I find it difficult to believe she didn't know there was a simple, cheap test available. Shocking.

[lisakaz2]

I should also mention that I had experienced something very similar years ago at a bar. I didn't know how to interpret what happened because I was frozen in a bathroom after having thrown up. I could not move without help and a guy I was with had to fish me out of the ladies bathroom (which apparently gave him a cheap thrill -- or so he told me). I highly doubt he would have done something because I was there to see him and he didn't have to drug me for s-x. So I don't know what happened, but given the fact that imo there was 0% chance he drugged me, I never tried to do anything about it.

[GinaLac]

I understand your experience - physically & emotionally - because I, too, was drugged after drinking w/ some friends at a favourite & oft-visited restaurant. Unfortunately, I didn't make it home intact, having been raped by 2 men after closing time.

Because it happened in a country where 1) submission of women is not uncommon, 2) rape is not seriously prosecuted - like in US history, even if you got through the macho police-imposed humiliation, you would then be assumed to have borne some - if not all - of the responsibility, & 3) because I too questioned my own experience - whether I'd just been drunk, even knowing as you did, that the incoordination, haze & inability to get my body to do my bidding, was not alcohol-induced.

Sadly, there was nothing I could do except stumble home at 8am & when I could think rationally & move w/out tripping over my own feet - 25 hours later - make an appointment w/ a doctor for an exam & morning after pill.

Having lived in said country for 8 years, I knew I had no legal options, never mind testing for any drug present in my system! And while I agree that tests for these drugs - or at least the most common 3 or 4 - is a medical necessity, you were 'lucky' to have been in the States when this crime occurred.

[lisakaz2]

Sophia,

It sounds a lot like rationing to me -- the medical profession, pressured by insurance companies don't want to test you. I had to buy my own blood test for Lyme disease (over $400 per; I've done it twice). I had a GP refuse to give me the name of an infectious disease doctor because they refused to accept these test results, despite the fact that the doctor who claimed to know more than me knew almost nothing about the disease. I knew from 5 minutes of conversation that I knew far more. It's a payment issue for sure. And I wonder if you can get policing over a test you have bought yourself.

Good luck. You are providing ample testimony as to how and why our healthcare system is in a disastrous state.

[SonofLiberty1]

Sophia,

Oh my gosh, what a horrible thing to go through:(

I am glad you are ok though.

This is such a sick thing for anyone to do to a lady.

I hope the guy gets caught!

My best wishes..there are plenty of nice guys out there
and I know you will find one of them:)

[mama1974]

Testing for these drugs should be standard in every hospital.

[Citytrucker]

The doctor should have sent the test, if she was aware that it existed, without worrying about the cost. Its not her job to make decisions based upon the bottom line. Its not just a question of legal evidence either; she should have wanted to know what was causing your disorientation and ataxia. A quick blood alcohol level would have clarified that you were not drunk. The fact that so-called "tox screens" are widely used to assess and individual's deliberate use of recreational drugs explains why date-rape agents are not on them. But why isn't there a similar panel for assault drugs?