Drugs and alcohol

Symptoms and effects

There are a number of symptoms exhibited by a person that has been drugged. Note, however, that the effects can vary from one person to another. Symptoms can be similar to those of being drunk, even if you’ve consumed little or no alcohol.

• Blurred vision
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Impaired judgement
• Inability to stay awake; unconsciousness
• Loss of coordination
• Loss of inhibition
• Memory loss, amnesia
• Nausea
• Slurred speech
• Vomiting

Date-rape drugs

“Date-rape” drugs are used to lessen a person’s ability to resist sexual assault or to render a person unconscious. The table below provides information on some of the more commonly used drugs.

	GHB (gamma-hydroxybutrate)“G” or “Liquid X”	Ketamine“K” or “Special K”	Rohypnol“Roofies” or “the forget pill”
Onset	15 to 20 minutes	Immediate	20 to 30 minutes
Duration	Several hours	Up to five hours Usually one hour	Up to 24 hours Usually eight hours
Appearance	Liquid	Liquid White powder	Small round white pill with the word “Roche” on it Green oval-shaped pill with “542” on it
Characteristics	Colourless and odourless Bitter; salty or soapy taste (when dissolved)	Odourless Very bad taste	Odourless and tasteless (when dissolved) Makes liquid blue or dark
Possible effects	Respiratory depression Vomiting	Trance-like state Numbness Hallucinations Loss of consciousness	Respiratory depression Serious intoxication Memory loss

These drugs are illegal and can result in death if mixed with alcohol.