One minute of silence starts the SOACOR Days Of Silence event Annually from December 29th through January 13th. That's One Minute Of Silence to start the 15 days of silence as Soacor, the woman, and others have done for several years. It all began in 1996, when an Innocent victim of a heinous drink-spike assault under the acronym of SOAR-R (Silent One Against Roofies/Rape) found it impossible to speak.  She handed out cards explaining her silence along with brochures from the local Rape Crises Center about the newly designed pharmaceutical drug known as Rohypnol.  To her amazement, very few knew anything about the drug or the assault crimes committed utilizing the new knock out drug.

Today the Silent One against crimes of roofies (SOACOR) represents a number of people who are informing others of the dangerous crimes committed with roofies to drink-spike an Innocent victim.  Roofie, ruffie, ropes, easy-lay are all terms used to describe the pharmaceutical Rohypnol. Rohypnol is a modern day sedative that when diluted is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and can put an individual out for 12 - 14 hours or even cause death. GHB, and Burundanga are related in the sense that they also are undetectable but can render a person into a trance-like state and leave the individual without memory. Due to the drug-induced amnesia of these drugs, they are being used in conjunction with sexual and non-sexual abuse crimes.  It is the modern day "mickey" of the 40's.

"Roofie," in this discussion, and at the SOACOR website 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, as Soacor says, "Once in, you are OUT!"  One can read such things as "protect yourself," "use the buddy system," "watch your drink," "watch who pours your drink," "don't leave the drink unattended" and the like but without knowing your surroundings and who has access to these drugs, nothing is safe. It cannot be stressed enough that this is not like some minor infraction -- with roofies, there is no backup! Once in, you are OUT!

Knowledge helps. Although some say that "knowing about it won't save you" -- having the knowledge of what to look for may just do that.  It is important to become aware that these drugs are DEADLY, or at the minimum, dangerous.  One must ask themselves, "Was the drink spiked?" or " Was the pill a Rohypnol or a derivative?"  One Innocent victim had actually started her stopwatch after taking just half of what was said to be the pain reliever "Codiene." She was asked to time the relief from the back spasm. She remembers announcing at two  minutes that the spasm was not gone. She never saw three minutes. It can be just that fast.  She spend the next seven hours in blackout and because the paramedics who found her in a gutter had administered Narcan, an anti-opiate, the next 10 hours were in and out of consciousness.  These drugs are not "Fun."  

Size doesn't count. As numerous reports confirm, only a small amount of the drug could put you into black-out. If drink-spiking has happened to you, there is no other way to go but out. That puts you, your purse, your car, your apartment and every one you know at the mercy of your drink spiker. Seven to twelve hours is plenty of time to drive to your residence, steal -- remove evidence. It allows access to your address book (your relatives names, the location of your work) enabling the drink spiker to come back and monitor your actions -- making sure you don't talk. It could allow access to you for more drink spiking and possibly another assault. 

It also puts you at the mercy of those professionals, if called, and the precise chemicals (unknown) that were ingested by you against the fast acting, seizure producing anti opiates (see Narcan) administered by professionals. This is a serious problem. It is not one to be taken lightly.

The crime comes from those criminals who do the drink spiking, not the drug that allows the crime. The drug can have all of the law attached to it but it is the drink spiker who is the criminal. Once the drug has been put into a drink, it is very difficult if not impossible to prove a crime has taken place. Roofies, the drug, is only part of the problem. Roofies, the drug, only facilitates the crime. What is needed is help for the Innocent. Why is it that we blame a pill for the perpetrator's crime? Is it because the pill facilitates a focal point with which to target our individual anger? Is it because the pill can easily be found and apprehended? Is it because the pill is something to blame?

Just remember, size doesn't count. "It was such a small pill, so innocent looking, and I only took half of it." It is true that this small, and very innocent looking pill could put a person into black-out for 12 hours or even cause death. It's not just the knowledge about the drug that is vital -- you also need to know who has it in their possession or has access to these drugs. To protect oneself, then, the most vital information is to know if those around you can access the drug or drugs under the umbrella known as "roofies". Obviously, if they can access the drug, they can also become drink spikers.

See "In Memory Of" Caleb. He gave rave parties and didn't use GHB to an excess. He thought he was perfectly safe until one night he drank what he thought was water and died. Although he was with friends, and knew of their involvement - one slip-up as to which container to drink from; his friends fearful of reprisal did not call 911 and this wonderful young man is lost forever.

Some Police will white wash the roofie attack. The official Police Report in one such case, white washes the entire incident as a Welfare and Institutions Code 5150, claiming the victim crazy and taken to the hospital for observation. This was done, we believe, to keep the crime statistics of the tourist town low, thus enhancing tourist trade. No arrests will be made. The criminals are free to continue drink spiking other tourists who are easy prey due to their media hype of low crime statistics.

Memory.  In the opinion of this writer, is the best weapon against those crimes committed by drink-spikers using the roofie drugs. SOACOR Foundation will be organizing a group of investigators who are trained in evidence gathering to work specifically in this area of law.  SOACOR plans to conduct a study and work with inventors to produce evidence gathering products of a medical and non-medical nature.

SOACOR offers free downloadable free drink covers, calendars and a start kit (for those Innocent victims who desire to find out what happened in black-out). Also, there are links to other web sites offering more data on these drugs.

Be a part of the One in Silent Ones of SOACOR, help educate others of these dangerous drugs known as roofies by simply using SOACOR Cybercards as e-mail greetings. It is a win-win situation. With the SOACOR Cybercards, you also may chose your own personal music, artwork, photos or select from a huge selection of art and cartoons.  By using the SOACOR Cybercards, you are educating many on this vital message. 

Whatever you do, do it with the drink spikers in mind and remember SIZE DoSEn'T couNT. Be safe - If you turned your head on an open drink - buy another. If someone waved a hand over your drink - buy another. If you left your drink to get up and dance - buy another. Whatever the cost - it is safer than to take that sip. Use the SOACOR drink covers, they are provided free.

Become a part of the One in Silent Ones of SOACOR, help spread the word by using the Soacor Cybercards. Know who you are with (ask yourself could they be a drink spiker? do they have access to illegal drugs?) and always use the buddy system. Remember, once in - You ARE OuT!