Sex under the influence

Some people think that being high or drunk makes it easier to be sexual. Some even think it makes it better. But 29% of youth say they have gone further sexually than they wanted to when using drugs or alcohol. Substances lower inhibitions. It may feel great in the moment, but the next day…possible regrets.

The reality is drugs and alcohol makes us vulnerable, even when they make us feel invincible.

Risks of mixing Sex and Substances:

• unable to detect danger
• less able to defend yourself
• makes it hard to communicate sexual limits
• not using condoms or practicing safe sex
• trusting people that you shouldn’t
• going past what you are normally comfortable with
• getting into a dangerous place, like an apartment or car.
• pressuring someone to go farther sexually than they want
• Unable to think clearly
• Regrets the next day
• Sexual assault

Click here for ideas on how to party safe!

75% of all sexual assaults involve alcohol or drugs.

Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault
When people talk about “date rape drugs”, they often mean GHB, Ketamine, Ecstasy, Rohypnol. These kinds of drugs are often slipped unknowingly into someone’s drink and then the person will take advantage of or assault the victim while they are messed up or passed out.

Date rape drugs are any drug or alcohol that make a person lose their inhibitions, vulnerable to manipulation, or pass out. Alcohol is the most commonly used “date rape drug”. GHB is being recognized as the second most common.

Want more info about drugs and alcohol? Find out more at streetdrugs.org

Some people do these drugs by choice. Just because someone voluntarily takes these drugs, does not mean they are asking to be assaulted.

Being sexual with someone when they are too wasted to give consent, is sexualized assault.

Think you may have been given date rape drugs?
If you felt more “wasted” than you should have, dizzy, nauseous, foggy headed, weird, if you passed out and don’t remember anything, it is possible someone may have given you a drug.

Here is what you can do:

• PEE IS THE KEY
• Don’t pee until you can get a urine sample.
• Go to a hospital and tell them you need a urine sample for testing and evidence.
• Get checked for any other possible injuries and evidence.
• Talk to friends to fill in the blanks.
• Get help.
• Consider reporting what happened to the police, even if it is a long time after the incident.

GHB:
GHB is an illegal drug. It comes in a clear liquid that tastes salty when undiluted. People take it mixed with water or in juice. Mixed with alcohol it can be fatal. The flavour can be masked by sweet juices or pop or tomato juice. Victims of GHB often describe feeling really drunk and then passing out or not remembering anything.

Ketamine:
Ketamine is a horse tranquillizer and an illegal drug for humans. It comes in a powder that is snorted or injected. It could be mixed into a drink and not detected. A person may feel drowsy, spaced out, not able to control their body, or they may pass out. It can also make a person very vulnerable to suggestion and unable to detect danger.

Ecstasy:
“ E” or “X” as is commonly called, is an illegal drug. It comes in a pill or capsule taken orally or crushed into powder and snorted. It could be mixed into a drink and not detected. Ecstasy lowers inhibitions and can make a person very vulnerable to being manipulated. People may be too trusting or be more open to doing things they wouldn’t normally do. Sometimes it is offered in exchange for sexual acts or to bribe youth to get into prostitution.

Rohypnol:
Rohypnol or Roofies, is an illegal drug in Canada. It is a prescriptive drug in some other countries and is like Valium but way stronger. Rohypnol is not as available as the other drugs but is still known as a date rape drug. It is usually a white pill and can be crushed and mixed unknowingly in drinks. The manufacturers now put a special dye in it that turns a drink cloudy or blue. But it still may go undetected. Victims of “roofies” describe feeling more drunk or high than what they expected, dizzy, nauseous, sleepy or that they passed out. Other sedatives will also have these effects.