April is Sexual Assault Month
Each month more than ten women of all ages and backgrounds contact our Adoption Center with the same experience—they have been victims of a date rape drug, and are now pregnant, with most women not knowing who got them pregnant. Just after spring break is a time when we see a peak in pregnancy? For many of these women a date rape drug was involved.
The U.S. Census suggests that there may be 32,101 annual rape-related pregnancies among American women, over the age of eighteen. The adult pregnancy rate associated with rape is estimated to be 4.7 percent.
Several college aged women have reported waking up in frat houses or apartments with no clothing on. They find themselves in strange surroundings with unknown people and having been sexually assaulted while under the influence of a date rape drug. Just recently, our eighteen year old daughter shared her plans to celebrate her graduation with some girl friends in Cancun. I was concerned with their safety, but still wanting them to enjoy themselves so I was prompted to ask her—do you and your friends know what rape drugs are and how they are used? Surprising she had heard very little on the topic. Most of the women who call us don’t know either and wish someone had shared the following information.
Rohypnol is becoming the drug of choice for would-be rapists. Most all predators target unsuspecting victims by slipping these illicit drugs into their beverages at parties, bars, nightclubs, and dances. Rape drugs have the power to make one drink feel like six or more.
Laura, a sophomore from Florida, was one such victim. Laura who attended a private party, off campus, recalled that while she was dancing, she left her beer at a table, when she returned the perpetrator had already laced her drink. She only had one drink and started feeling kind of sick, then her memory got foggy, she started feeling drowsy, dizzy, and confused about where she was. “My roommate was going to come with me to the party, but at the last minute she made other plans. I decided to go alone, which was my first mistake.” Laura has no memory of what happened for the next eight hours.
