Since Azusa is home to Azusa Pacific University, our department takes note when we see something which might have an impact on our student population. This morning, our attention was grabbed when we stumbled across an article about some college students from North Carolina State University who were committed to ending sexual assaults involving the date rape drugs Rohypnol, Xanax and GHB.
Students Tyler Confrey-Maloney, Stephen Gray, Ankesh Madan and Tasso Von Windheim have come together to form Undercover Colors. Through their Facebook page and their website, they explain that they are working on a nail polish that will allow a woman to simply stir her drink with her finger, to see if there exists a date rape drug in the drink. If her polish changes colors, she'll immediately know something is wrong....both with her drink and the guy she's with!
Great job guys and thank you for what you are doing!
Do You Know About Rohypnol or GHB?
There are plenty of websites which will give you very detailed information about these drugs. One of them, drugs.com, provides plenty of detailed information which is easy to read and understand.
The key points about Rohypnol are;
- It is a sedative which causes muscle relaxation and reduced anxiety
- It's 7 to 10 times stronger than valium
- It starts having an effect within about 20 minutes and can last for 4 to 6 hours
- Has a strong amnesia like effect, thus making remembering a sexual assault difficult
- It is not approved for medical use or manufactured here in the United States
- If used in a sexual assault, a sample of the victim's urine needs to be collected within 72 hours
GHB, or Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate, is a central nervous system depressant, which is popular among the high school and college crowd.
- Causes increased sex drive and euphoria
- Victim's become sedated and thus unable to fight off sexual assault
- Very dangerous when combined with alcohol or other sedatives or hypnotics
- Over 60% of users reported loss of consciousness
Want More Information?
Check out the RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) website at www.rainn.org for information about sexual assaults. You can also call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-4673.
Need Help In Azusa?
If you are a student or parent of a student at Azusa High School, or any of our schools, and you have information about someone abusing these drugs, reach out to School Resource Officer Roland Martinez at (626) 815-3240.
If you are a student at Azusa Pacific University, please contact APU Campus Safety at (626) 815-3898, or call University Resource Officer Mike Bires at (626) 804-2547.
If you want to remain anonymous, click on the "Anonymous Tip" logo at the top of our website.