
WELCOME	ABOUT	RESOURCES	USING OUR OFFICE	HAITI

Sexual Assault . . . happens everywhere, everyday, and every minute to women and men of all ages. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to. It can include inappropriate touching, vaginal penetration, sexual intercourse, rape, and attempted rape. Did You Know That . . . ? 1 in 6 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime 1 in 4 college women have been the victims of rape or attempted rape 90% of the victims know their assailants. 1 in 12 men admit to having fulfilled the legal definition of rape. 85% or more of sexual assaults involve alcohol. Drug-Facilitated Assault Drug-facilitated sexual assault involves the administration of an anesthesia-type drug to render a victim physically incapacitated or helpless and thus incapable of giving or withholding consent. The drugs most often implicated in the commission of drug- facilitated sexual assaults are GHB, Rohypnol (a benzodiazepine), ketamine, and Soma. When slipped into a drink these drugs are colorless, odorless, and often tasteless. The effects happen within 15 to 30 minutes and can last for hours. These drugs render a person incapable of thinking clearly or of making appropriate decisions. This makes for a very passive victim and one who will have no clear memory of what happened. Victims may be unconscious during all or parts of the sexual assault and, upon regaining consciousness, may experience anterograde amnesia—the inability to recall events that occurred while under the influence of the drug. There are no conclusive estimates as to the number of drug-facilitated sexual assaults that occur each year; however, nationwide law enforcement reporting indicates that the number of such assaults appears to be increasing. It is important to remember however, that the most common drug used in rape and sexual assault is alcohol. The deliberate spiking of weaker drinks with spirits, or the doubling or tripling of spirit measures to make someone much drunker than they had intended, is an all too common means of putting someone in a position where sexual assault is possible. Take these precautions to protect yourself against drugs: * Let someone know where you're going and what time you expect to get home. * Avoid going out for the evening alone. * Remember that alcohol affects your reactions; you will be less alert. * Never accept a drink from someone you don't know or trust unless you have seen it poured or opened and are absolutely sure no one has touched it before you drink it. * While you are not drinking, put your hand over your glass or bottle top to make it harder for someone to drop something into your drink. * Avoid drinks from large open containers such as punch bowls, pitchers or jugs. * Avoid sharing drinks. * Never leave your drink unattended. * Think very carefully before going off with someone you have just met. * Plan your night out if you can. * Appoint a drink watcher if you go to the toilet or off for a dance. * If your drink has been moved, tastes or smells strange (GHB tastes salty), looks cloudy or has changed consistency DON'T DRINK IT. * Watch your drink being poured or the bottle/can being opened at the bar... * Be especially careful if you are in a strange place where you know few people. Your unfamiliarity can increase your vulnerability. * If you feel really tired or really drunk and don't know why, you may be feeling the effects of a drug. Tell a friend and get to a safe place. If you think that you have been drugged and raped: * Go to the hospital right away. * Get a urine 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. It is important that your first urine since the assault be collected. If need be, collect your urine in a container and bring it to the hospital with you * 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. No one deserves to be raped. Know that the effects can be overwhelming. Feelings of guilt, fear and confusion are common. There are many resources available to support you and help you explore your options. Info about drug-facilitated assault: www.projectghp.org www.clubdrugs.gov http://teenadvice.about.com/library/weekly/aa062502c.htm?p=1 Resources for Victims: Mount Sinai Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program www.mssm.edu/SAVI Womens Law www.womenslaw.org Family Violence Prevention Fund www.endabuse.org US Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women www.ovw.usdoj.gov National Domestic Violence Hotline www.ndvh.org Rape Abuse, and Incest National Network www.rainn.org National Sexual Violence Resource Center www.nsvrc.org St. Lukes Roosevelt Crime Victims Treatment Center: www.cvtc-slr.org Click HERE for additional phone numbers to help you locate counseling, shelter, and health care services, which are conveniently located and address specific needs.

Sexual Assault . . .
happens everywhere, everyday, and every minute to women and men of all ages.
Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to.
It can include inappropriate touching, vaginal penetration, sexual intercourse, rape, and attempted rape.

Did You Know That . . . ?

1 in 6 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime
1 in 4 college women have been the victims of rape or attempted rape
90% of the victims know their assailants.
1 in 12 men admit to having fulfilled the legal definition of rape.
85% or more of sexual assaults involve alcohol.

Drug-Facilitated Assault

Drug-facilitated sexual assault involves the administration of an anesthesia-type drug to render a victim physically incapacitated or helpless and thus incapable of giving or withholding consent.
The drugs most often implicated in the commission of drug- facilitated sexual assaults are GHB, Rohypnol (a benzodiazepine), ketamine, and Soma.
When slipped into a drink these drugs are colorless, odorless, and often tasteless.
The effects happen within 15 to 30 minutes and can last for hours.
These drugs render a person incapable of thinking clearly or of making appropriate decisions.
This makes for a very passive victim and one who will have no clear memory of what happened.
Victims may be unconscious during all or parts of the sexual assault and, upon regaining consciousness, may experience anterograde amnesia—the inability to recall events that occurred while under the influence of the drug.
There are no conclusive estimates as to the number of drug-facilitated sexual assaults that occur each year; however, nationwide law enforcement reporting indicates that the number of such assaults appears to be increasing.

It is important to remember however, that the most common drug used in rape and sexual assault is alcohol.
The deliberate spiking of weaker drinks with spirits, or the doubling or tripling of spirit measures to make someone much drunker than they had intended, is an all too common means of putting someone in a position where sexual assault is possible.

Take these precautions to protect yourself against drugs:

* Let someone know where you're going and what time you expect to get home.

* Avoid going out for the evening alone.

* Remember that alcohol affects your reactions; you will be less alert.

* Never accept a drink from someone you don't know or trust unless you have seen it poured or opened and are absolutely sure no one has touched it before you drink it.

* While you are not drinking, put your hand over your glass or bottle top to make it harder for someone to drop something into your drink.

* Avoid drinks from large open containers such as punch bowls, pitchers or jugs.

* Avoid sharing drinks.

* Never leave your drink unattended.

* Think very carefully before going off with someone you have just met.

* Plan your night out if you can.

* Appoint a drink watcher if you go to the toilet or off for a dance.

* If your drink has been moved, tastes or smells strange (GHB tastes salty), looks cloudy or has changed consistency DON'T DRINK IT.

* Watch your drink being poured or the bottle/can being opened at the bar...

* Be especially careful if you are in a strange place where you know few people. Your unfamiliarity can increase your vulnerability.

* If you feel really tired or really drunk and don't know why, you may be feeling the effects of a drug. Tell a friend and get to a safe place.

If you think that you have been drugged and raped:

* Go to the hospital right away.

* Get a urine 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. It is important that your first urine since the assault be collected. If need be, collect your urine in a container and bring it to the hospital with you

* 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.

No one deserves to be raped.
Know that the effects can be overwhelming. Feelings of guilt, fear and confusion are common. There are many resources available to support you and help you explore your options.

Info about drug-facilitated assault:
www.projectghp.org
www.clubdrugs.gov
http://teenadvice.about.com/library/weekly/aa062502c.htm?p=1

Resources for Victims:
Mount Sinai Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program www.mssm.edu/SAVI
Womens Law www.womenslaw.org
Family Violence Prevention Fund www.endabuse.org
US Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women www.ovw.usdoj.gov
National Domestic Violence Hotline www.ndvh.org
Rape Abuse, and Incest National Network www.rainn.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Center www.nsvrc.org
St. Lukes Roosevelt Crime Victims Treatment Center: www.cvtc-slr.org

Click HERE for additional phone numbers to help you locate counseling, shelter, and health care services, which are conveniently located and address specific needs.