My Experience With a Date Rape Drug

This article, which ran in the June/July issue of Teen Trend Magazine, caused a great deal of controversy.  It ran in the magazine to alert teens as to what can happen, but was considered too "harsh" by many camps where the magazine was supposed to be distributed.  Instead, the magazines were donated to local women's shelters.  What do you think?

My Experience with a Date Rape Drug

By Kaysee Mitchell

I was drugged last night.

As a woman, I've always heard stories of how an innocent college girl goes to a fraternity party, leaves her drink to go to the bathroom, comes back and drinks it, and is plastered by just one beer because one of the brothers "slipped her something." Like the majority of the girls that are told that story, I never thought it could happen to me.

In college, it never did. My mother worried about me living in DC to go to college while she and the rest of the family lived in New York. I went to countless fraternity parties, among other parties, and never had that experience. Sure, I drank at the parties, but I was always coherent enough to get home without incident. I was smart, too. I always had at least one friend with me. I suppose you can call that "cautious" more than "smart"... But it's always smart to be cautious.

Last night, I let my guard down.

To give you some background: I was recently cast in a theatrical production about 1/2 an hour away from my house. Last night, I had rehearsal at 8:00. I arrived a little late, about 8:04, due to an accident on Sunrise Highway. My counterpart was waiting outside of the dark theatre.

"Hey," I called to him as I got out of my car.

"We need to talk, Kaysee," he replied grimly. No one else was around. The streets of Riverhead were empty, and a light, misting rain began to fall.

"Why? What happened? Where is everyone?"

"The director dropped out of the show." My jaw hit the concrete.

"What? Are you kidding me?" It was the biggest part I'd ever landed and the director had dropped out. No director means no show.

"We might have someone else to direct. Let's go get a drink and talk about it." Not even thinking, I agreed. I tossed my script into my car and walked down the street to the bar. On the way, I called my boyfriend to let him know what I was doing and where I would be.

In the bar, the actor chewed my ear off about the production company and his acting experience. He gushed about how "cool" it was to be able to play opposite "such an experienced actress." He asked me numerous questions about the television shows and movies I'd been in.

He ordered a beer and I ordered a soda. The drink never left my sight. It was in front of me the entire time. I never got up to go to the bathroom or anything. At one point, however, I was distracted by rummaging through my purse for my cell phone. I guess I did take my eyes off of my drink for a second.

After we finished our drinks, we decided to go to the producer's house to find out what was going on, and so that I could some personal property back. Since the producer lived five minutes away from the theater, it didn't seem like a big deal. Besides, I couldn't get him on the phone when I tried to call him from my cell.

We took 2 different cars and left Riverhead at about 8:45. I remember the producer's surprise at the two of us showing up at his house. He told us that we had "10 minutes until The Sopranos," so we had to make it quick. The actor told him everything that happened as he got more beer. I requested a soda, and he brought me a glass of Coke. I took two sips of my soda, and then went into the bathroom.

After coming out, I started feeling very strange. Drunk, almost. I told them that I wanted my belongings, and wished them luck in finding a new director and actress. They both tried to get me to stay. The actor even asked me to go out later.

I made a beeline for my car, and the producer followed. I gave him the script of the show back, and he asked me if I wanted to do another show with them. I declined, wished him well, and drove away at 9:03pm.

My head was swimming and all of the lights were blurry. I called my boyfriend (who happens to be a police officer) as soon as I pulled out of the driveway and asked him, "How do you know if someone put something in your drink?" Needless to say, he freaked out. He kept asking me where I was, begging me to pull over so that he could come and get me. I was worried that something would happen to my car, and I told him that I would be home as soon as I could.

I got off the phone with him and called my mother. Mom asked me, "Are you drunk?" I told her what happened, and she freaked out. Of course, no one knew whether or not I was slipped something for sure, but it truly seemed that way.

My boyfriend called me again, when I was just three exits from home. I was in BAD shape, and I realize now that I shouldn't have been driving. Fortunately, I got to home safe and sound.

What happened after that is a bit of a blur. I remember talking with my mom again. My boyfriend spoke with her several times, too. I remember taking a breathilyzer test for him to prove that I wasn't really drunk. (Incidentally, my Blood Alcohol Level was 0.00.) I remember him giving me a field sobriety test where I followed a pen with my eyes, and I failed miserably. I also remember drinking water and taking some Pepto Bismol for my upset stomach.

From 10:30pmuntil around 10:20am, everything else is pretty much a blur. I honestly can't remember it. My boyfriend was working the midnightshift, and I know that he stopped by and called a few times to make sure I was okay. That's about all. I don't remember changing into my pajamas. I don't remember getting into bed. Apparently, I called my boyfriend four times. I don't remember that at all.

My boyfriend spoke with some of the guys in narcotics and described my symptoms. He thought I might have been given Rohypnol. The narcotics officers believe I was given GHB. Both are popular types of date rape drugs.

 My dear reader, I am a 29 year old woman. I was in a public bar with someone I was working with when I was slipped this drug. Think about what could have happened if I were 17 years old and drinking to get drunk at an overcrowded house party.

Date rape drugs really do exist. It is a huge problem in high schools and colleges worldwide, much less nationwide. It's sad, but it's true. Don't sit back and think that something like this would never happen to you. It doesn't matter if you are white or black, fat or skinny, taken or single.  Trust me, it can happen when you least expect it.

Thank goodness nothing else happened to me. I felt funny, and I got myself out of the situation-- PRONTO. Even though I got out of that situation, I could have died if I took too much GHB. I don't know how much I was given. All I know is that I can't remember a lot of what happened last night.

This is a very serious issue. It's a good idea to designate a friend to stay sober during the entire party, and just keep tabs on everyone that is there. Underage drinking is not only a bad idea, it is ILLEGAL.  Do yourself a favor and don't grow up too fast.

I learned a very valuable lesson from this incident. The man that drugged my drink is 43 years old. Even though I had been working with him for 2 weeks, he did this to me. In college, you try to make friends fast-- especially if you're away from home-- and you tend to trust people a little quicker. Be careful of whom you trust.

It just may save your life.

For more information about date rape drugs, visit  www.rapecrisiscenter.com.

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