Pot times July 16, 2005
New Program For Date Rape Drug Victims
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1122/a02.htmlNewshawk: Herb
Pubdate: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 NEW PROGRAM FOR DATE RAPE DRUG VICTIMS
Source: Kenora Daily Miner And News (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Kenora Daily Miner and News
Contact:
minerandnews@norcomcable.ca
Website: http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/855
Author: S. Patrick Moore
Lake of the Woods District Hospital and six other Ontario hospitals are piloting
a project to provide care and support for those who believe they were drugged
and sexually assaulted.
Lake of the Woods District Hospital and six other Ontario hospitals are piloting
a project to provide care and support for those who believe they were drugged
and sexually assaulted.
The hospital has had a sexual assault and domestic violence care centre for 10
years. But this one-year pilot project paid for by the Ontario Women's
Health Council intends to find the best approach on how to care for drugged and
violated individuals.
"Often times these people can't remember," Kathleen Fitzgerald, co-ordinator
of the hospital's sexual assault care centre, said. "We try to help
the person understand what may or may not have happened."
The centre takes a urine sample and a swab from the effected orifice. This
is then sent to an independent laboratory for analysis, which can find trace
amounts of drugs and reports either a positive or negative find to the care
centre; it does not indicate concentrations. The presence of male DNA is
also sought.
Meanwhile, a forensic kit is used to collect medical evidence from the client's
body and clothing to assist legal proceedings, should there be any. But
the clinic holds the kit until results are back and the client decides on his or
her actions.
Fitzgerald said people are reluctant to talk to police when they are unsure of
what transpired.
"This ( testing ) helps a person from an emotional and psychological point
of view. It lets them know, 'OK this did happen'."
If the results indicate a drug's presence, the individual decides if she or he
wants the police involved. If yes, the police are called and the evidence
kit is supplied.
Prior to this project, the hospital's lab could only detect drugs within six to
eight hours after the event. The independent lab is able to find trace
elements and has a timeframe of about 72 hours.
Date rape drugs, as they're commonly called, include Rohypnol and other
nefarious pills, powders and liquids. Rohypnol, or "roofies",
emerged in Florida in 1993 and rapists have since used it to complete their
heinous activity.
Fitzgerald said most women who visit the centre are victims of involuntary
alcohol intake. But past cases raised suspicions of drug involvement but
testing could not confirm or deny it, Fitzgerald said.
The Kenora Police recorded 12 sexual assaults in 2004 and 12, to date, in 2005.
Kenora was chosen along with some southern hospitals to provide fair
representation since it's northern and relatively remote.
Seven clinics are part of the project because it allows for easier adjustments
and adjudication of the program. There are 34 sexual assault clinics
operating in Ontario hospitals.
"We're hopeful the protocol will be used province wide to help,"
Fitzgerald said.
