What if I was raped? How can I get help?
If you have been sexually assaulted or raped, call the 24-hour Rape Crisis Line to talk with someone who can help. The Rape Crisis Center serves Savannah and surrounding counties. For help call (912) 233-RAPE in Savannah or 1-888-241-RAPE toll free. Our trained advocates are available any time of the day or night. For all other areas call the R.A.I.N.N National Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE to locate the center nearest you.

What if nobody believes me?
The staff at the Rape Crisis Center will believe you. We specialize in dealing with sexual assault and rape and will not judge you. We will assist you with any medical, legal or personal issues and provide an open and supportive atmosphere for you to begin healing.

Could it be my fault?
If someone has forced or intimidated you into unwanted sex, you are not to blame, and it is not your fault. Even if you were kissing at the time, even if you have had sex before, you always have the right to say “NO”. No matter what you were wearing, no matter where you were, no matter how much you had been drinking. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. Victims don’t cause rape, rapists do!

What if I was drinking? What about Date Rape Drugs?
Just because a person has been drinking or using drugs does not mean they deserve to be raped or assaulted. Drinking, however, can put you at risk by decreasing your awareness in dangerous situations. Studies show that 75 percent of all date and acquaintance rape situations involve the use of drugs and alcohol. A person who is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol is UNABLE to consent to sexual activity. If drugged, it may look to others that the victim went willingly the with perpetrator and therefore was a willing participant. Many times, the victim may have left the party/bar with her arm around the perpetrator (which may look like she is being romantic, but is really because the drugs often create a loss of motor coordination and balance). When drinking, be sure to set clear limits.

Alcohol is the most widely used date rape drug. In acquaintance rapes, alcohol is used by over 70 percent of perpetrators and 50 percent of the victims. Alcohol is a Central Nervous System depressant. It slows down brain activity, is quickly absorbed in the blood stream, and circulates to all parts of the body and to every vital organ. Other drugs used in drug-induced sexual assault are Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine, and ecstasy.

Rohypnol, also known as Roofies, Roaches, La Roache, Poor Man’s Quaalude, R2, Mexican Valium, and Love Drug, is a benzodiazapam (sedative). It is a powerful sedative that is used in other countries to treat debilitating sleep disorders and as a pre-anesthetic before surgery and medical procedures. Rohypnol is manufactured by Hoffman La-Roache Pharmaceuticals and is sold in 80 countries. It is illegal to bring into this country and it is illegal to manufacture, distribute, or possess it for sale in the United States. It is a small pill that, when dropped into a drink, is odorless, tasteless, and colorless. Ten to twenty minutes after ingesting Rohypnol, a person may feel dizzy, disoriented, too hot, too cold, and/or nauseated. The peak may come in one to two hours (depending on dosage), lasting up to 8 to 12 hours, and may not fully wear off for several days. Other symptoms include, but are not limited to: confusion, drowsiness, disorientation, difficulty walking, impaired judgment, decreased blood pressure, lack of inhibition, dizziness, and complete or partial amnesia of events that occurred while on the drug.

GHB (Gamma Hydroxybuterate), also know as G, Grievous Body Harm, Georgia Home Boy, Scoop, and Easy Lay, is a depressant and was originally developed as an anesthetic. It was formally sold by health food stores and gyms as a sleep aid, fat burner and enhancer of muscle definition and was pulled off the shelves in 1990 because of bad side effects. GHB acts faster than Rohypnol. Within five to twenty minutes after oral ingestion, the effects are felt. The acute symptoms appear to decrease after three to four hours. If combined with alcohol, the effects may last 20 to 30 hours and can be fatal. GHB is made from Gamma Butyl Lactone (solvent for cleaning engines) and Sodium Hydroxide (lye). It is a clear or yellow liquid with a bitter taste. GHB has been illegal to import or possess in the United States since 1996. Effects felt from GHB include: confusion, drowsiness, loss of motor coordination and verbal coherence, impaired judgment, memory loss, slower and deep respiration, decreased heart rate, reduced inhibition, dizziness, seizures, and coma.

Ketamine, also known as Special K, Vitamin K, K, Ket, and Cat Valium, is a powerful anesthetic used as an animal tranquilizer. It is a clear liquid with no taste, but can be injected or reduced to a powder and sprinkled on cigarettes or joints. The effects of Ketamine can be felt within five minutes, and its effects can last for about one hour. Symptoms include: hallucinations, visual distortion, impaired motor function, lost of sense of time, loss of speech, and amnesia.

Ecstasy (MDMA), Methelenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as X, XTC, Adam, Clarity, and Lover’s Speed, is similar to the stimulant amphetamine and hallucinogen mescaline. Ecstasy is ingested in 20 minutes and the effects last 3 to 6 hours. Chronic use can produce long-term damage to the serotonin-containing neurons in the brain that regulate emotion, memory, sleep, pain, and higher-order cognitive process. Symptoms include: confusion, sleep problems, anxiety, paranoia, dehydration, depression and increase in heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.

To prevent becoming a target for drug induced sexual assault, be sure to set clear limits and practice the buddy system. Only take drinks from bartenders or servers in restaurants. Do not leave a drink unattended. Watch out for your friends and have them watch out for you. Be aware of your surroundings, the people you are with, and what they are doing. Be alert to the behavior of friends who may appear to be unusually inebriated in relation to the amount of alcohol they have consumed. If you think you may have been drugged or suspect that you have been involved in a drug induced rape, call 911 immediately or go immediately to the hospital to take a urine sample. The findings of such a test can provide valuable evidence in a court of law if you with to prosecute the case. The Drug Induced Rape Prevention Act of 1996 creates additional penalties for perpetrators who use drugs to facilitate sexual assaults, up to twenty years can be added to their sentence.

What is Date/Acquaintance Rape?
Date/Acquaintance Rape is when someone you know, or someone who is familiar to you, forces you to have sex with them. It could be a boyfriend, an ex-boyfriend, or simply someone who you vaguely know or have seen “around”. Regardless of the relationship, it is against the law!

Should I fight back?
If you are in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation, and you have exhausted all other options (such as verbally asserting yourself or walking away), fighting back may be your best alternative. Women who physically fight back often get out of the situation without being sexually assaulted. However, if you choose to fight back, be prepared to give it all you’ve got. As a preventive measure, take a self-defense class. The Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire offers free self-defense classes to women in the community.