Date Rape, Drugs and Alcohol  Ok, these things are really touchy subjects to read about; but that doesn’t mean you should just sweep them under the carpet and pretend they’ll never affect you – because they might.
Strictly speaking, Date (or aquaintance) Rape describes a situation when someone you know rapes you. It could be someone you’ve known for ages or for just a little while – and because of this, it can be really difficult to realise it has actually happened. For example, if you were going out with someone who you really liked, and they forced you into sex - would you call it rape? It’s a tricky thing to think about because it may not fit your perception of what a rape actually is. But just because you know (and maybe even like) the person who forced you, doesn’t make it ok for them to get away with it. There are some things that you could think about when you’re out on a date, at a party or wherever - that could discourage this sort of thing happening…. - Don’t give out mixed messages regarding whether you want sex –say "NO" when you mean NO.
- Be forceful and firm – don’t worry about being polite. Say something like "Stop it, I'm not enjoying it," because if you just ignore sexual advances that you don’t like, it could be misinterpreted that you want them to go on.
- Decide early if you would like to have sex – ok, so it’s not exactly very passionate - but the sooner you tell your date your sexual intentions the safer you’ll be.
- Be aware of those "unconscious" signals that you could be giving out – yeah, everyone wants to go out and feel attractive, you have the right to wear whatever you want – but just be aware that things like skimpy clothes, posture and flirtatious eye contact might be giving off the wrong impression….this is not your fault as there are some strange people out there.
- Be independent and aware on your dates - Have opinions on where to go and think about appropriate, safe places to meet.
- You can always go on a double date with a trustworthy friend - if you are worried about going on a date with someone you are unsure of .
- Avoid the more secluded places if you're going on a first date - the more people that are around you, the safer you'll be.
- Tell your friends or family WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND WHO YOU ARE WITH - you'll be much safer that way.
Date Rape Drugs  It’s unpleasant , but there’s often a strong link between date rape and date rape drugs - the most common being Rohypnol or "roofies" and less commonly GHB.
Now, Roofies are dangerous. They have no taste, smell or colour (GHB does at least taste a bit salty) – yet they dissolve into drinks and cause memory loss and sedation within 20 minutes, being 10 times the strength of valium and lasting 8 hours. Because of this, Rohypnol is perfect for date rapists – it can be slipped into a drink easily - so within a short while the victim is effectively at their mercy….without knowing anything about it. It’s bad news all the way, because even if you do remember that something weird has happened; chances are, you won’t be able to remember the details which might be crucial to finding the person who raped you. If you think that you might have been drugged - YOU SHOULD SEEK MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY - make sure somebody RESPONSIBLE knows! If you need advice, then go to: http://www.rapecrisis.co.uk Alcohol  Although certainly not as severe as date rape drugs, it’s worth thinking about what you're drinking when you're out at a social occasion and whether it could be putting you in danger.
Drinking and responsible, safe sex don't really go well together.... Drinking too much could easily cloud your judgement regarding safe sex, choice of partner or even whether you want sex at all. It's not difficult to realise then, that alcohol could put you at risk from STI's, unwanted pregnancy or even rape (in fact, one GP we spoke to said that almost ALL of the teenagers he prescribes the Morning After Pill to, were drunk when they had unprotected sex.) Remember! - Alcohol impairs your ability to make smart choices! http://www.factsontap.org (for information on alcohol and sex)
- Eddy Vista
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