Drug Rape

The vast majority of rapes are committed by a person known to the victim. It is comparatively rare to be attacked and raped by a total stranger.

There have been many cases in the last decade of 'drug-rape', so called because of a substance being administered to the victim via a drink without their knowledge which renders them incapable of making decisions or acting for themselves. The most common of these drugs are Rohypnol, one of the benzodiazepine group used for treating sleep disorders and GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyrate), used as a human anaesthetic.

These can be quickly mixed into a drink and with no smell, no colour and being tasteless they cannot be detected by the person consuming the drink. Once in the system the person very quickly succumbs to the effects. As traces of these are lost from the body within 24 hours, it is extremely difficult to get evidence that is necessary to take a case forward legally because it is only after this amount of time that the person properly realises what has happened to them. Also the difficulties that oppose any investigation of this sort of offence includes the fact that the victim was probably seen draped all over the abuser and seen as perhaps having had 'one too many' but certainly consensual when leaving the place with him/them.

It can often have a devastating effect when the memories begin flooding back usually over a few days time and in episodes of the abuse but in no particular order. This sketchiness also makes it very difficult to make a statement with the degree of accuracy that is required for any action to be taken.

Drink Detective

The Drink Detective™ is the only test in the world that detects the most commonly abused drugs that are used to spike drinks for the purpose of rape, robbery or other crime.

Alcotop

Alcotop™ is a specially designed bottle top which can be bought over the bar in clubs,pubs and online is easily fitted over the neck of a bottle. You only need to buy one for the evenings drinking as alcotop can be taken from bottle to bottle and at the end of the evening taken home and used again on your next night out.

The Northamptonshire Rape & Incest Crisis Centre, 4 St Giles Terrace, Northampton NN1 2BN

Registered Charity No. 297043

This Centre is Grant aided by Northampton Borough Council & Northamptonshire County Council

Telephone: 01604 250721