I considered almost everyone at the barbecue a close friend; that is, until “Jeremy” arrived. Jeremy and I had met over a year ago at a friend?s home. He had requested several times that my boyfriend and I make out in his presence that night and then made several attempts to lure me alone. My firm tone and clear words went unheeded, and the evening ended with my hands on his chest, pushing his face away from mine.
The night of the barbecue I was in a jovial, sunny mood. The night was peaceful and laughter came easily. Details start to get fuzzy here, but I clearly recall how warm I felt toward my friends and how safe I felt when I suddenly became aware of an intense feeling of nauseous intoxication.
I was disproportionately affected by the small amount of alcohol I had consumed. I must rely on my friend “Rafael?s” account, as I had amnesia for most of the rest of that horrible evening, filled with vomiting, incoherence and emotion. In response to Rafael?s many questions, such as, “How much did you drink?” I could only moan. He and another friend helped me to the car, as I was not capable of walking on my own. I was like dead weight.
I woke the next morning with painful stomach cramps. I vomited several times and was unable to stand for more than 30 seconds before collapsing with nausea and exhaustion.
Still, I did not consider the possibility that I had been drugged until I spoke with my friend “Tim,” who had also been at the barbecue. Jeremy had asked Tim several times throughout the barbecue where my boyfriend was, and Tim had noticed something “creepy” and “anxious” in his tone. Jeremy also told Tim a lie about me: “She always thinks I?m hitting on her. Three times now she?s said that.”
When it occurred to me that Jeremy intended his lie to be an alibi should I later accuse him of rape, a feeling of sheer panic and dread overwhelmed me as I thought of how close I had come to having my worst fear realized. I wanted to cry but tears would not come. The moment seemed suspended in time, a horrible nightmare from which I could not wake.
That night, I went to the emergency room where I filed a police report and talked to a doctor about my experience. “What makes you think you were drugged?” the doctor asked, disbelief in his voice.
I explained my symptoms, but the doctor insisted that date rape drugs typically do not cause nausea or vomiting (I later learned otherwise). He tapped my legs and arms, shrugged apathetically, and said he supposed it was possible that someone slipped something in my food or drink.
It took 10 days for a detective to be assigned to my case. Now, over five months after the incident, there has been no investigation.
In the days that followed I was overwhelmed by everyday tasks. At one point I was convinced I heard someone enter my apartment while I was in the shower. I sat huddled in the tiny bathroom with the door locked for almost an hour before I cautiously stalked the apartment with my cell phone. I slept a total of 10 hours in four nights.
Six weeks later Tim contacted me against my wishes. He was no longer part of my life at this point due to his lack of support in my decision to file a police report. Tim had insisted that it was wrong for me to contact the police, despite of the fact that he admitted to recreationally using GHB, a common date-rape drug.
GHB is a clear, tasteless, odorless liquid known to cause amnesia, drowsiness, hypotonia, nausea, vomiting and uncoordination. The onset of symptoms typically begins within 15 to 30 minutes after oral ingestion. By itself it has been fatal, and is especially dangerous when mixed with alcohol. These are facts of which the doctor at the ER was not aware or did not wish to acknowledge. For the first time, I began to feel angry.
Please never leave your drinks unattended. If you do, dump it out. Do not let anyone buy you drinks unless you are watching that drink from the time it is poured until the time it is empty. Take drinks with you into the bathroom stall if you must. Always go out with a trusted friend. If you or someone you know is ill or becomes suddenly intoxicated, go to the ER and file a police report immediately.
Special thanks to Community Pharmacy for their support and information.