One lawmaker and police officials held a press conference yesterday to discuss three of the most utilized "date-rape drugs," to help primarily young women who frequent night clubs to protect themselves.
KMT Legislator Yang Li-huan (楊麗環) called the press conference at the legislature and invited officials from the National Police Administration's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) to show the public how to avoid being surreptitiously administered with the drugs.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Yang said that more and more women are being raped after visiting night clubs and consuming beverages mixed with date-rape drugs by people purporting to be friends.
Yang offered four pieces of advice to women who find themselves in a situation where they believe they have been given such drugs.
"First, if you feel like there's something wrong after you have a drink, leave and call for help as quickly as possible. Second, don't be ashamed to ask for help at the scene. Third, go to the hospital immediately if you feel uncomfortable and fourth, if you are raped, try to remain calm, keep all available evidence and report to the police," she added.
The CIB's Division of Appraisal's section chief Chiu Li-yi (邱麗宜) said that there are three widely used date-rape drugs.
They are Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), Ketamine Hydrochloride (Special K) and Flunitrazepam 2mg (FM2).
According to Chiu, GHB usually comes as an odorless liquid, slightly salty to the taste and is sold in small bottles. It has also been found in powdered and capsule form.
It is classified as a sedative-hypnotic and was originally developed as a sleep-aid.
At lower doses GHB has a euphoric effect similar to alcohol and can make the user feel relaxed, happy and sociable. However, overdoses can cause a temporary coma and slow breathing to a dangerously low rate, which has caused a number of deaths.
FM2 is tasteless and odorless with a sedative effect and is usually used for insomnia or as a pre-anesthetic and has an effect similar to Valium. It usually comes in pill or liquid form and is banned in the US, where possession can lead to a 30-year prison term.
Special K was originally created for use as a human anaesthetic and is still used as a general anaesthetic for children and persons of poor health as well as in veterinary medicine. It usually comes as a liquid in small pharmaceutical bottles, and is most often cooked into a white powder for snorting.
Lower doses of Special K will give a person a mild, dreamy feeling similar to nitrous oxide. Higher doses produce a hallucinogenic effect, and may cause the user to feel far away from their bodies.
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