Date rape.html



Main article: Types of rape

The term "date rape" refers to the non-consensual sexual activity between people who are known to each other either platonically or sexually. These particular instances of sexual assault take place during a social interaction between the rapist and the victim, hence the name date rape. It may be planned or spontaneous. The majority of young women raped (68 percent) knew their rapist either as a boyfriend, friend or casual acquaintance.^[1]

Drug facilitated rape

In some cases, "date rape drugs" such as GHB^[2], flunitrazepam^[3], temazepam^[4], midazolam^[5], and ketamine^[6] may be used to neutralize resistance or render the victim unconscious. Such drugs will usually also affect memory of the event. Alcohol remains the drug most frequently implicated in substance-assisted sexual assault. Memory loss of the event can lead to an inability to later prosecute as the victim will not remember the exact circumstances of the attack. As such, date rape is difficult to prove in most judicial systems.

Amnesia can be a side-effect of benzodiazepines and can be utilized in a therapeutic setting to reduce unpleasant memories from investigatory medical procedures, e.g., endoscopies. All benzodiazepines can be used as date-rape drugs, but flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), clonazepam (Klonopin), midazolam (Versed), and temazepam (Restoril) are the most commonly used.^[7]

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