Rohypnol
Often followed

Rober! Galster

News Reporter:
robert@nsnews.com

“Shore: nigheslub py stron is
“concerned, half-a drink: will

: official: “name:
a _Rohy pnol: It is also known as

“the rape drug.”
Cheryl (tho did norwant.
sas name, published) had.

hinks:may~ have-

“been ‘a run.in with Rohypnol
‘severalweeks. ago vat. North
Vancouver: s- Avalon Hotel.

tknow how fone T
‘as‘down, “but when

icinogenic;drugs and this was
r-scary: forme because ‘all

b ispent®a
ight ted yal

Ge:

‘called her back.

“back,”

: " Minister

drinker was 1a -positive: fot
me. vs

Chervl tried to contact:
the Avalon in. the. days after,

the incident; but no-one

““T think | it’s
the ‘Av. lon wasn’t more sup:
‘portive,. or. eve calling
said Cheryl. “or m not
_ laying blame on’them [, just
‘awwant: people to. be. aware.

Calls ta the “Avalon's: man-
Agnacnto were also. ser
returned. : me

Fors ihose woo haven
heard about the drug whose |

WN a.steeper rise than ©

rac-in the ULS., beware.

It’s starting, to ‘catch on: in
Canada:

. Women’s |. “Equality
Sue. “Hammell
writes: “Socfar, we’have:no
confirmed ‘use, of this illegal.”

unfortunate.

. become bloodshot,

moa Hquids and produces any

; drug. bur anecdotal evidence

is increasing. With-this drag,
a Woman doesn’t suspect thar

she has been assaulted uncil

much later'when she tri¢s'10
picee” together the
encounter.” a —
The small. found, ‘taste-
less pill can, be'casily slipped
into “pop, juice, “water or
alcoholic drinks and leaves its:
victims. extremely intoxicat-’
ed.
Ir, dissolves’ quickly “inta
etees about v0. times
stronger than that of Valium:

“In about. 30) minutes, it cre-
atesa drunk-like. state thar”:

can last ‘as long as 2-4 hours.

Speech is” slurred, 5
coordi-
nation’ “can: bes” s
impaired and = memory. loss’
will most, like v occur. The:

‘erely a

erages:

report warns (that) at this
point, “strangers . will) -be
unable to tell if (someone) i is
drunk or drugged.”

Rohypnol. is. reported to

“remove inhibitions. against a

sexual assault and’ can. even
erase. all ‘memories of the

. encounter.

In the most ‘severe: case,
choking, difficulty breathing

and even death can occur Tr.

is an ‘illegal drug in. both
Canada ‘and the
States. aq

Tne: ministry suggests ‘a

list’ of preventative: measure
“to combat the illegal. admin-

istration (of this drug on,
~ unsuspeeting :
ft includes such common /”
ms as watching:out:

jms.

sense i
nds and keeping.a

‘close eve on purchased bev. |
It alse discourages =

women”
: drinks fromy strangers.

United °°

from.

Phe reminds

repor' C

“women tliat sexual assault is
a crime and that.victims are

not to blame.! >."

* Anyone who has become:
oa vietim of-sexual. assault
-.. should” be . encouraged «to
“seek help from: a ‘sexual
assault centre ora women’s”
information:
car also be found through”

centre... More

‘jevepting

the: Victims Se $
Information Line’ at I- 800-"
‘563-0808. i

North Vancouver RCMP.
‘spokesman © Const. fom”:
Seaman’ said. no® incidents»:
‘involving the rape drug hav
-beén reported.

“The police? neourage
anyone to, whom: this hap
pens ; :
added Seaman. :

’ 183 Pemberton Ay TALKING

YeLlow PAGES