Are you in the know?
In recent years, a new type of rape threat has been introduced to university and college campus life that, unfortunately, goes extremely unnoticed.
Also known as “date rape drugs”, these pharmaceutical-facilitated sexual assaults can not only put an end to your wild campus parties, but can ultimately lead to your death.
Peterborough Police Staff Sergeant, Ted Boynton, has been working as a police officer for 25 years. Starting off as a frontline uniform officer, he was assigned to the downtown core where local bars are and investigated every type of call imaginable.
He was then assigned to work in a joint forces operation with the RCMP where he was strictly a drug enforcement officer. During this time he was also involved in undercover work in bars, purchasing drugs from the dealers and then subsequently arresting them.
He was then promoted to Staff Sergeant, where he supervises in various sections and investigations involving date rape drugs.
“College and University students are at the highest risk to become victim to this crime,” said Sgt. Boynton. “They are easy targets for this type of criminal. Consuming alcohol is a popular pastime of many young people experiencing the bar life as they reach their teenage years.”
Boynton also mentioned the Liquor License Act, which just last week announced that bar patrons will be able to take their drinks with them to bathrooms and hallways, instead of leaving them unattended, eliminating the opportunity for offenders to slip drugs into their beverages.
When speaking of date rape, many students might have the “it would never happen to me” attitude, which can also make them more of a target. What some students don't understand is that this crime does not only happen by people who you do not know, but as well as people who you might consider a friend.
Sgt. Boynton stated that more often than not, someone you know could plan it, leaving them in a position where after they have placed the drug into the drink, and the victim starts to show exaggerated signs of impairment and drowsiness, the suspect, or casual friend, can offer help to this person and take them home.
However, stranger-to-stranger offences do occur as well. “They will usually look for a victim who appears to be by themselves,” said Sgt. Boynton. “That way, after the drug takes effect, they can move in and help the victim.”
Sgt. Boynton stated that the most common way for a suspect to act upon a date rape is by placing the pill or fluid in a persons drink when they are not watching. The person could have simply left their drink while they got up to dance, or go to the bathroom, however the victim would return and continue drinking not thinking anything was wrong.
“The suspects are very hard to identify as they can quickly do this without being detected,” said Sgt. Boynton. “They will quite often pick up the victims glass or bottle as if it were their own and pretend to drink from it, while unbeknown to anyone watching them, they quickly place the drug in the drink, return the glass and move amongst the crowd as if nothing happened.”
“I am sad to say that this criminal offence happens a lot more often than it is ever reported to police,” said Sgt. Boynton. “The main problem with this drug is that the victim can become unconscious as a result of the drug. They show all the signs of being completely intoxicated and passing out but they know they have only had one or two drinks.”
Some of the substances used as date rape drugs include GHB (which comes in a liquid form that has no odor), Rohypnol (a pill that dissolves quickly in a liquid) and Ketamine (a white powder).
They can cause symptoms such as drowsiness, nausea, seizures, black outs, problems breathing, distorted perceptions of sight and sound and out of body experiences. Boynton stated that date rapes are very hard cases to solve.
The problem with date rape drugs is that it does not stay in the system for a very long period of time, most up to 24 hours. By the time the victim realizes what may have happened to them and they get the courage to report it the narcotics may already be out of their system and will no longer be found in the blood tests for court purposes.
“Both males and females can be victims to this crime,” said Sgt. Boynton. “Male victims are usually targeted by male suspects who prefer males. I have never heard of a case where a male has been a victim of this crime where the female has been suspected of the crime.”
Advice
Never go to a bar or party by yourself
Always have a buddy who you trust
Make a plan before you go out for the night
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DRINK UNATTENDED FOR EVEN A MINUTE!!
If you have to go to the bathroom or if you are in a dancing mood, finish your drink first, or leave it with a friend
If you suspect that your are the victim of this crime...
Go to the hospital. They will examine you and ensure that you are physically O.K.
They may offer the morning after pill and will offer you a Sexual Assault Kit to be completed, which will gather information and evidence.
Also known as “date rape drugs”, these pharmaceutical-facilitated sexual assaults can not only put an end to your wild campus parties, but can ultimately lead to your death.
Peterborough Police Staff Sergeant, Ted Boynton, has been working as a police officer for 25 years. Starting off as a frontline uniform officer, he was assigned to the downtown core where local bars are and investigated every type of call imaginable.
He was then assigned to work in a joint forces operation with the RCMP where he was strictly a drug enforcement officer. During this time he was also involved in undercover work in bars, purchasing drugs from the dealers and then subsequently arresting them.
He was then promoted to Staff Sergeant, where he supervises in various sections and investigations involving date rape drugs.
“College and University students are at the highest risk to become victim to this crime,” said Sgt. Boynton. “They are easy targets for this type of criminal. Consuming alcohol is a popular pastime of many young people experiencing the bar life as they reach their teenage years.”
Boynton also mentioned the Liquor License Act, which just last week announced that bar patrons will be able to take their drinks with them to bathrooms and hallways, instead of leaving them unattended, eliminating the opportunity for offenders to slip drugs into their beverages.
When speaking of date rape, many students might have the “it would never happen to me” attitude, which can also make them more of a target. What some students don't understand is that this crime does not only happen by people who you do not know, but as well as people who you might consider a friend.
Sgt. Boynton stated that more often than not, someone you know could plan it, leaving them in a position where after they have placed the drug into the drink, and the victim starts to show exaggerated signs of impairment and drowsiness, the suspect, or casual friend, can offer help to this person and take them home.
However, stranger-to-stranger offences do occur as well. “They will usually look for a victim who appears to be by themselves,” said Sgt. Boynton. “That way, after the drug takes effect, they can move in and help the victim.”
Sgt. Boynton stated that the most common way for a suspect to act upon a date rape is by placing the pill or fluid in a persons drink when they are not watching. The person could have simply left their drink while they got up to dance, or go to the bathroom, however the victim would return and continue drinking not thinking anything was wrong.
“The suspects are very hard to identify as they can quickly do this without being detected,” said Sgt. Boynton. “They will quite often pick up the victims glass or bottle as if it were their own and pretend to drink from it, while unbeknown to anyone watching them, they quickly place the drug in the drink, return the glass and move amongst the crowd as if nothing happened.”
“I am sad to say that this criminal offence happens a lot more often than it is ever reported to police,” said Sgt. Boynton. “The main problem with this drug is that the victim can become unconscious as a result of the drug. They show all the signs of being completely intoxicated and passing out but they know they have only had one or two drinks.”
Some of the substances used as date rape drugs include GHB (which comes in a liquid form that has no odor), Rohypnol (a pill that dissolves quickly in a liquid) and Ketamine (a white powder).
They can cause symptoms such as drowsiness, nausea, seizures, black outs, problems breathing, distorted perceptions of sight and sound and out of body experiences. Boynton stated that date rapes are very hard cases to solve.
The problem with date rape drugs is that it does not stay in the system for a very long period of time, most up to 24 hours. By the time the victim realizes what may have happened to them and they get the courage to report it the narcotics may already be out of their system and will no longer be found in the blood tests for court purposes.
“Both males and females can be victims to this crime,” said Sgt. Boynton. “Male victims are usually targeted by male suspects who prefer males. I have never heard of a case where a male has been a victim of this crime where the female has been suspected of the crime.”
Advice
Never go to a bar or party by yourself
Always have a buddy who you trust
Make a plan before you go out for the night
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DRINK UNATTENDED FOR EVEN A MINUTE!!
If you have to go to the bathroom or if you are in a dancing mood, finish your drink first, or leave it with a friend
If you suspect that your are the victim of this crime...
Go to the hospital. They will examine you and ensure that you are physically O.K.
They may offer the morning after pill and will offer you a Sexual Assault Kit to be completed, which will gather information and evidence.
