Book Description

The author, a survivor of rape by three men after she had been drugged by one of them, provides a detailed account of the impact of and recovery from a "drug rape, " and she offers advice on how to prevent being the victim of such an assault. The drug used in the rape was apparently placed in her drink by a male friend. The drug had the effect of a relatively mild anesthetic, which rendered her incapable of conscious control of her body and any ability to provide physical resistance to an attack. She was driven to a "rape house, " where the brother of the drugging offender and one of his friends were waiting to commit the sexual assault. The victim had no immediate recall of what had happened, and the agonizing reconstruction of her victimization came through periodic flashbacks that gradually increased in their vividness, clarity, and completeness. Part of her emotional and mental suffering was making sense of the flashbacks and their credibility, both in her own mind and in the reactions of those to whom she described the flashbacks. Because of the elapsed time between the rape and her reconstruction of the events and persons involved, the statute of limitations on the crime had expired. The victim was left with having to deal with what had happened to her through rape counseling and the resources of her religious faith. Her advice to others for preventing what happened to her is to use a buddy system in which a friend will be responsible for detecting and countering any suspicious actions by persons at a bar or a party. Other advice is to never leave a drink unattended. Information is also provided on the drugs typically used in rapes, namely, GHB and ketamine. They are tasteless, odorless, and colorless. Intoxication occurs quickly, causing disorientation, confusion, and an extreme loss of behavioral control within minutes. Any suspicion that drug rape has occurred should prompt seeking help. Any recall close to the time of the attack warrants action to save evidence; do not shower or dispose of or clean clothing worn at the time of the attack. Urine should be saved and tested for drugs.