Rophynol : The drug that time forgot

You do it almost every time you go out. You go to the Union and have a few drinks.  You feel that warm glow rise to your face and then before you know it, they’re calling time at the bar.

You look in your purse and realise it contains exactly 36p and a paperclip.  “No problem,” says the handsome stranger at the bar who generously offers to buy you a drink.  You gratefully accept and think nothing more of it.

But you should because the free drink that you’ve innocently accepted could contain a nasty surprise. Rophynol.

Rophynol is a drug designed to sedate horses, but recently it has featured in news headlines associated reported cases of date rape. Due to the drug being invisible and odourless when dissolved in liquid, it can be easily slipped into an unsuspecting females drink.

The effects of the drug are drowsiness, short term amnesia, sedation and light- headedness and take only 30 minutes to kick in. These effects make it very easy for women who have taken the drug to be overpowered and sexually assaulted compared to the strength that a sober women would have.

There has been an increase in sales of bottled drinks , bought by women who are being forced to make a vigilant choice every time they’re at the bar.

Since Rophynol’s introduction onto the black market, where it is available for less than a couple of pounds, reports of alleged date rape by women have risen dramatically.  Victims of assault have little recollection of the incident as the affects of amnesia can last from 8 to 24 hours.

It is often hard to charge suspects with rape due to the length of time it takes for the victim’s memory to return, but this should not deter women who believe they have been drugged from reporting their claims to the police.

Many US campuses have realised the potential threat of the drug and now actively educate female students about the dangers of accepting drinks from anyone. The message is it doesn’t matter how well you know someone, they can still be a potential rapist.

U.K Universities have yet to follow suit, but by publishing this article it is hoped that women will be aware of the dangers of leaving their drinks unattended and realise that it’s not worth risking yourselves for the price of a vodka and coke.