Donna M. Kroocmo
Dear editor:
We are in the midst of the holiday season, with parades, festivities, and celebrations that include the number-one date-rape drug available: alcohol.
Disturbing information has come to our attention recently involving other date-rape drugs being used in our district, and we believed it was imperative that we reach out to women during this time and provide them with a serious warning.
Make no mistake—date-rape drugs are being used in Rainy River District. Unfortunately for most, people believe that is Rohypnol or Gamma-Hydroxybutyate but in most cases, the number-one date-rape drug used is alcohol.
Marijuana is the second-most common drug found in the system of date-rape victims. Marijuana lowers inhibition and reduces good judgement, just as alcohol does.
The third-most common drug of choice for rapists is cocaine, with GHB, Ketamine, and Rohypnol following in that order.
Advising young women to “watch their drink” when out in public seems like well-meaning, good advice; however, it also can put the onus on the prospective victim to protect herself from the predator and make it less likely that she will report the incident if she is victimized.
It also detracts from the danger of other drugs that most find harmless such as alcohol and marijuana.
Should a women suspect that she has been victimized, she should seek medical intervention as soon as possible. It tests are done quickly enough, the date-rape drug still may be detectable in her system.
If she does wake up and is unsure of what has happened, as is most often the case, she should look for the following indicators that the crime may have occurred:
1. Waking up in different surroundings or unfamiliar places
2. Clothes are missing, torn, or stained
3. Loss of memory
4. Sore muscles
5. Unexplained scrapes/bruises
6. Soreness in genital area or breasts
7. Abnormal discharge
Seek medical attention immediately if any of the above indicators are present, and as for the date-rape kit to be administered.
You may call us 24 hours a day at 1-800-465-3348 for assistance with the process.
You have done nothing wrong and it is not your fault, regardless of whether or not you drank too much, smoked marijuana, or left your drink unattended.
You did not deserve this.
Far too much emphasis has been placed on the hysteria surrounding date-rape drugs, and too little on how these crimes are being perpetrated in the first place.
We are living in a rape culture. But it is not new. This is a crime women have had to contend with since the dawn of time, and there is no reason to believe that the world will be much kinder to our daughters and granddaughters.
We must work together and confront the sexist attitudes whenever we witness them. We need to become more concerned about the safety of women in society than we are about hurting someone’s feelings when they just made a sexist comment.
We need to speak out against the pornographic images that surround us in our daily lives, and argue for more control on Internet sites that permit anyone of any age access to its graphic and demeaning images of women.
Young men have stated that they are confused about why their girlfriends want them to hit them during sex, and they do not understand how their girlfriends could have been so negatively influenced by our pornographic society.
It is my belief that young men do not want a society that treats women so badly. But until we all start speaking out against rape culture, that is exactly what we will continue to have and I, for one, want so much more for my granddaughters.
Have a wonderful holiday and please be safe. If you intend to party, please pay close attention to your sisters, friends, and other women.
Until we can change society, it is up to each one of us to do our best to keep each other safe.
Sincerely,
Donna M. Kroocmo
Executive Director,
Rainy River District
Women’s Shelter of Hope
