It is the DRINK-SPIKERS and those criminals who use this drug to take advantage of innocent victims. Due to the drug-induced amnesia of these drugs, they are being used in conjunction with sexual and non-sexual abuse crimes. It is to this faction that this is being addressed. "Roofie" in this discussion and at the SOACOR.com site relates to any drug that will produce the effect of "black-out" such as the drugs used by Jeffrey Dahmer to incapacitate his victims.

Does that get your attention? It's vital that it does because "Once in, you are OUT!" There is no 'whoops' faction when dealing with these drugs. Once one of them is in your system (or the system of a loved) there is no control over what happens to your body. Other people do. (As in the case of Samatha Reid, her friend Melanie was also drink-spiked and therefore could offer no assistance -- this case is being cited only because it was recently on 20/20 but it is one of many cases.) It is for this reason that SOACOR.com began. See Why Soacor.

'Roofies', The New "Date Rape" Drug of Choice by Clark Staten, ERRI Executive Director. This article compares the new drug with the Quaaludes of the 60's and 70's.

On the DEA web site, the U.S. Department of Justice indicate that the distribution and abuse of this new drug is increasing... for as low as $5 per tablet. The drug is used for insomnia. It is sedative hypnotic and a preanesthetic medication. See U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration Flunitrazepam - Rohypnol.

More recently a student in Minneapolis claims to have been involved in a roofies-rape situation. This occurred as recently as October 5, 1999. See Channel 4000 for details of the article.

From Newsletter for February 19, 1997, the Interior Delegation Chair Pete Kelly HB 69 Outlaws Date Rape Drug. "Legislation introduced by Rep. Al Vezey classifies Flutnitrazepam, the "date rape" drug, as a controlled substance. . . . HB 69 sends a clear message that those who would perpetrate sexual abuse ... will not be tolerated. One way to make safer communities is to make sure that drugs like Rohyphol are classified as controlled substances and the offenders are punished as felons."

From CNN: Victims of 'date rape' drug testify - July 17, 1996 is a comprehensive article on the aftermath of the drug ingestion. Interviewed is Lisa Celestin of coral Springs, Florida and Joy Diliello of Jackson, Tennessee. These women were given drinks spiked with the drug Rohyphol.

Rape is not the only thig this drug is used for -- a 32-year-old divorced mother of two believes she was raped under the influence of Rohypnol. She woke up with an inch-long cigarette burn and huge blisters down her back.

North Korea embarking on a global crime spree "involving North Korean officials. It was the "largest seizure of Rohypnol on record--is just one in a long string of drug incidents, counterfeiting cases, and other alleged crimes involving North Korean officials."

Rhodes college has an article written by Amanda Garrigan, Staff Correspondent, Surviving Sexual Assault. In the article she indicates that there are 1.3 forcible rapes every minute. She indicates that this new drug (Ruffies) takes 10 minutes to take affect and she states it can last for eight to ten hours. that there are additional problems such as loss of inhibition, extreme sleepiness, relaxation, and amnesia when combined with alcohol.

.See Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University's web site for a microscopic view of the drug Rohypnol which is a benzodiazepine sedative-like drug. In their article it states that the drug is also a powerful hypnotic that will induce a sleepy, relaxed, almost drunk feeling.