It's a slow moving trend but one that is in our area. They're called club drugs. The most common ones are GHB and Roofies. The problem is that these drugs are many times tasteless, odorless, and water-soluble

With an onset anywhere from ten minutes to an hour, one dose can impair motor skills by as much as six drinks of alcohol. But there is a test that checks out your drink for drugs. Within the month, a new product is hitting convenience store shelves. It's called Drink Safe Coaster. Aside from a heavy volume of on-line sales about forty college universities are buying in bulk and handing them out on campus. 23 News hit the local bar scenes over the weekend to find out if and how much people worry about the dangers in their drink.

It just takes a second for you to look away and someone could spike your drink with g-h-b or another type of club drug. That's where Drink Safe Coaster may help. It takes about five minutes; all you have to do is place a drop of your beverage on both spots and wait for them to dry. If you see a deep blue change in either spot, there's the possibility of a date rape drug.

Drink Safe Technologies says the cards are 95 percent effective. But there are some limitations; the test doesn't work for milk products, liquors, and some acidic beverages. The coasters only detect two date rape drugs, GHB and ketamine.

State line area narcotics task force frequently is out undercover tracking drugs in our area says they are starting to see spin-offs of GHB. Some are in forms of cleaners, nail polishes, and even being sold legally in health food stores as a growth catalyst. But so far, SLANT says they have had very few reports of date rape drugs. But with GHB comes amnesia and a person may not remember.

Now its not just random strangers handing out the date rape drugs, 60 percent of those caught giving date rape drugs are bartenders.

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What Kinds of "Date Rape" Drugs Are Out There?

Rohypnol

• It is a white tablet that is single or double scored on one side.
  
• "Roche" or "RH" are imprinted on the tablet, and "I" or "Z" is circled on either side.
  
• It is often found or obtained in its original blister-wrap packaging.
  
• Rohyptnol is a pharmaceutical that is used in 80 countries to treat severe sleep disorders.
  
• It is also known as "roofies", "roaches", "la Rocha", and the "forget pill".

Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)

• It is often "homemade" or made in clandestine laboratories.
  
• It is a liquid that is often carried in water bottles or in other containers.
  
• GHB is a central nervous system depressant found naturally in the brain and the other tissues.
  
• It is also known as "liquid ecstasy", "liquid X", and “grievous bodily harm."

Ketamine

• It comes as a liquid in its pharmaceutical form.
  
• It is also found as a white pill or powder.
  
• Ketamine is a general anesthetic used extensively in veterinary medicine.
  
• It is also known as "special K".

Common Symptoms

• Drowsiness
  
• Impaired judgment
  
• Nausea
  
• Confusion
  
• Dizziness
  
• Impaired or loss of memory
  
• Lack of muscle coordination

How to Protect Yourself

• Do not leave drinks unattended.
  
• Do not accept open containers at parties.
  
• Accept drinks only from bartenders or servers and watch them open it.
  
• If you feel ill, get help immediately.

  Source: http://www.hawc.org/topics/teen/daterapedrugs.html (Houston Area Women's Center Web Site)