The term “date rape drug” refers to certain drugs that are used in a sexual assault. Sexual assault is when a person does not consent to sexual activity. It can include inappropriate touching, vaginal penetration, sexual intercourse, rape, and attempted rape. This class of drugs can make a person feel helpless, unable to speak up to refuse sex, or make you not remember the sexual activities that took place. In this article, we will look at ketamine or ketamine hydrochloride. This is also known as Special K, vitamin k or just k, Dr. K,

Ketamine is a white powder. It is usually used on animals but can be used on humans and is an anesthetic. It is legal in the United States. Usually when a veterinary place is robbed, the robbers will take an entire supply of ketamine. Like other date rape drugs it is colorless and odorless so it is hard to tell if it is in your drink or food. The affects take quickly especially the higher of a dose and if it is mixed into an alcoholic beverage.

Ketamine can cause these problems:
• hallucinations
• lost sense of time and identity
• distorted perceptions of sight and sound
• feeling out of control
• impaired motor function
• problems breathing
• convulsions
• vomiting
• out of body experiences
• memory problems
• dream-like feeling
• numbness
• loss of coordination
• aggressive or violent behavior
• slurred speech

The following can be done to protect yourself:
• Don't accept drinks from other people.
• Open containers yourself.
• Keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom.
• Don't share drinks.
• Don't drink from punch bowls or other large, common, open containers. They may already have drugs in them.
• Don't drink anything that tastes or smells strange. Sometimes, GHB tastes salty.
• Have a non-drinking friend with you to make sure nothing happens.
• If you think that you have been drugged and raped:
• Go to the police station or hospital right away.
• Get a urine (pee) test as soon as possible. The drugs leave your system quickly. Rohypnol stays in the body for several hours, and can be detected in the urine up to 72 hours after taking it. GHB leaves the body in 12 hours.
• Don't urinate before getting help.
• Don't douche, bathe, or change clothes before getting help. These things may give evidence of the rape.
• You also can call a crisis center or a hotline to talk with a counselor. One national hotline is the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE. Feelings of shame, guilt, fear and shock are normal. It is important to get counseling from a trusted professional.