Sadly, no matter the precautions a parent or teenager takes when in a social setting, sexual assault is all too common in the United States. If you think your teen has been the victim of a sexual assault where drugs used in sexual assault were involved, you need to know the proper steps to take next.
Four undergraduates from the University of North Carolina made news a few years ago for discovering a new way to see if a drink has been adulterated by drugs. They invented a nail polish that changes color when dipped into a tainted drink. While some have celebrated this innovation for its potential applications, others have pointed out that the nail polish will probably not be as effective or accurate as laboratory testing. In some cases, non-lab based test for drugs used in sexual assault have been too sensitive and in other cases, they haven’t been sensitive enough. It remains to be seen how effective the nail polish will be at detecting the drugs most commonly used in sexual assault.
If you do find that your teen has been a victim of sexual assault, make sure to take the proper steps to ensure your teen is properly taken care of, both physically and mentally.
Steps to Take After a Suspected Sexual Assault
Because the drugs perpetrators use in sexual assault make it difficult to remember what happened, often victims of rape where drugs have been used don’t even know what has happened until 8-12 hours after the attack. It’s important for victims of sexual assault and drug-induced violence to move quickly if there are any of the following signs of drugs since they leave the body so quickly:
- Feeling drunk or hungover when they haven’t consumed any alcohol
- Feeling the effects of drinking unusually strongly
- Feeling extremely disoriented
- Not remembering large chunks of time
- Finding clothing is torn or askew
- Feeling as though they had intercourse, but not remembering it
Step 1: Seek Medical Care
If you think your teen has been sexually assaulted while under the influence of drugs, call 911 right away or take them to the emergency room. It’s important that the victim doesn’t urinate, bathe, brush their teeth, wash their hands or other body parts, change clothes, or even eat or drink before they go. All of these actions could result in the loss of critical evidence from the sexual assault.
Step 2: Call the Police
When you are at the hospital, call the police and have your teen tell them everything they can remember. It’s important that no details are left out, as they could help law enforcement determine who gave them the drugs.
Step 3: Testing for Drugs Often Used in Sexual Assault
Your teen also needs to get tested for drugs commonly used in sexual assault if you suspect they were raped or in other ways physically violated. Remember, these drugs leave your system quickly. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate is gone in 12 hours, while Flunitrazepam can be detected for 72 hours — so the sooner you are tested, the better.
Step 4: Counseling
Consider encouraging your teen to pursue treatment for emotional trauma. Working with a sexual assault crisis counselor can help victims address their feelings and also provide guidance as they move forward to press charges and continue dealing with the aftermath of the assault. For immediate help coping with sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE.
Help With Drugs Used in Sexual Assault in Kansas City
While no parent or young adult wants to face the reality of drugs used by a perpetrator in sexual assault, it’s crucial that everyone knows the right steps to take in the event of a suspected drug situation.
IF YOU ARE WORRIED THAT YOUR TEEN has been given drugs in an attempt to physically violate them, WE PROVIDE ACCURATE AND CONFIDENTIAL DRUG TESTING. CALL (816) 800-9699 OR CONTACT TEST SMARTLY LABSTODAY. YOU CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT ANY OF OUR 4 KANSAS CITY AREA LOCATIONS.