THIS IS A TRUE STORY. The names of those involved have been changed for confidential reasons.
It was the Eve of Christmas, and yet all was not quite well. Only one day left ‘til the silly season started in earnest and the cheeriness was almost infectious, until the first morning consultation sent my mood crashing.The pleasant young man sat opposite me and with his voice almost quivering he asked for an STD (sexually transmitted disease) test. Before I could go any further I asked him to tell me his story, expecting the usual and all too common tale of getting drunk and waking up next to the “wrong kind of girl”. But this story was different.
“Tom” (not his real name) was not into the club scene; however on this one occasion he joined a small group of friends to celebrate a mate’s birthday at MBargo in Kuta. At some stage during the night he became separated from the pack, and started chatting with a group of what seemed to be “good blokes”. They shared a few rounds of drinks and that’s pretty much the last thing he remembered, until he awoke at sunrise the next morning, naked on Kuta beach. He had been raped. He has no idea who the men were. It will not be reported as he can hardly remember what happened.
Tom is not young, foolish or stupid. In his mid thirties, he is married with a young family. He is a fit surfer and is trained in martial arts, but nothing could protect him after that one drink that was laced with the drug ROHYPNOL.
Tom will need a full STD screen work up including tests for Hepatitis B & C and HIV (total cost approximately 2.5 million rupiah). He cannot be cleared of these diseases until repeat testing for up to 6 months after the event. He now faces the usual emotions following sexual assault such as anger, guilt, depression, as well as the dilemma of telling his wife, and close friends. He would also be well advised to seek post-exposure therapy for HIV and hepatitis, as we can safely assume that the perpetrators of this crime were far from being decent people, and certainly not the type to consider “safe sexual practice”. This will probably mean a trip overseas, time off work and a huge chunk out of the family budget. (He is insured but as with most policies, his policy does not cover for sexually transmitted disease).
In a nutshell this mans life has been made a living hell by one stupid mistake. He trusted a stranger at a bar. I am hearing this story all too often. Mostly from young women, however I have heard of several cases lately where men or boys have been the victims.
What is Rohypnol?
Rohypnol is a potent sedative. The physical effects of the drug may be noticeable within 15 to 30 minutes after ingestion. The effects may last for many hours. Rohypnol may cause drowsiness, confusion, impaired motor skills, dizziness, disorientation, dis-inhibition, impaired judgment, and reduced levels of consciousness. You may look and act like someone who is drunk. Your speech may be slurred, and you may have difficulty walking. Or you may be rendered unconscious. It is very dangerous to mix Rohypnol with alcohol or other drugs. The combination can produce extremely low blood pressure, respiratory depression, difficulty breathing, coma, or even death. Rohypnol also may produce complete or partial amnesia (memory loss) about the events that occur after it is ingested.
What does Rohypnol look like?
Rohypnol pills are white and round. They are often distributed in their original packaging -- foil-backed, clear plastic “blister-packs” or “bubble packs.” Sometimes the packages may be opened and the pills may be ground up or crushed into a powder. Rohypnol is occasionally found in liquid form. If Rohypnol is dropped into a drink, it may dissolve and become “invisible.”
How is Rohypnol being abused?
Across the country, there are reports of people “dosing” other people without their knowledge by dropping whole or crushed Rohypnol tablets into a drink. The drink can be a soda, juice, punch, beer, or any alcoholic beverage. When Rohypnol is dissolved in a drink, it is colorless, tasteless, and odorless. You cannot see it, taste it, or smell it. Therefore, if you consume a “dosed” drink, you are likely to be totally unaware that you are being drugged.
Naturally the best way to avoid this happening to you is not to accept drinks from strangers and not to leave any drinks unattended at any time.
If you do feel that you have been “dosed” and you are feeling excessively “drowsy” or “silly” or if you feel that you are “merrier” than you should be for the amount of alcohol that you have consumed:
- Tell a friend quickly before the drug has time to take full effect.
- If you are alone telephone someone who can come to get you quickly, then lock yourself in the bathroom (sit yourself down so that you won’t fall if you pass out. Don’t forget to tell your friend that’s coming to get you where you are!)
- If your friend is not interested or cannot be found, tell a security guard. If he brushes you off as a “drunk”, fall to the ground clutching your chest and scream “heart attack”. This should get his attention!
Merry Christmas and a Happy & Safe New Year to All!
Kim Patra is a qualified registered nurse and midwife who has been living and working in Bali for almost 20 years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail at info@chcbali.com or Hp. 081 2366 0000.
