(File photo) Date rape drugs often cause a person to appear heavily intoxicated even if they've had little or no alcohol and can cause nausea, vision problems, seizures, tremors, coma or even death. If use of date rape drugs is suspected remove the victim from the situation and take them to a hospital for screening immediately.

It's Saturday night and you're out at the bar with friends. After only a couple drinks you start feeling as though you're far more intoxicated than you should be. You're suddenly exhausted and dizzy, your speech is beginning to slur and waves of nausea are taking over your body. Will your friends realize you need help and call a cab, or will they laugh off the situation, assuming you're a lightweight that can't handle their alcohol?

If this is the case, you may have been drugged, and more people have been there than you'd like to think.

Despite what many believe about small town Iowa, date rape drugs are in the Lakes area.

"We haven't had any reports of usage with sexual assaults, but we have previously arrested people for possession of these drugs," said Spirit Lake Police Chief Jeff Hanson. "They are in our community."

What are date rape drugs?

"There are three basic types of date rape drugs, plus the use of alcohol," Hanson explained. "You have Rohypnol, Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) and Ketamine Hydrochloride."

Rohypnol pills, commonly known as ruffies, R-2 or ropies, are 5-10 times more powerful than Valiums. They dissolve quickly in liquids and are identified as a white tablet with "Rouche" imprinted on one side above either a "1" or "2" and are scored on the opposite side.

GHB has a few forms - a clear, odorless liquid, white powder and a pill - and is known as liquid ecstasy. GHB is considered to be more dangerous than Rohypnol or Ketamine because an overdose can be fatal, especially when combined with alcohol.

Ketamine Hydrochloride, also called Special K, K, Vitamin K, Cat Valiums or simply Ketamine, can be a clear liquid or a white powder. Victims have reported feeling as though they have had an out-of-body experience or a dreamlike feeling following ingestion.

"Why these drugs make effective date rape drugs is (that they) are virtually undetectable," Hanson said. "They are tasteless, colorless and odorless, and all traces of the drug will leave the body within 72 hours of ingesting them... They're easily slipped into drinks and food and are very fast-acting."

Anyone showing signs of possible date rape drug ingestion should immediately contact medical personnel for testing.

"Date rape drugs are not found in any routine toxicology or blood test," explained Hanson. "We have to look for them specifically."

Each of the drugs carries with it many dangerous side effects, among them nausea, vision problems, seizures, tremors, a slowed heart rate, loss of consciousness, violent behavior, coma or even death.

"They pretty much all have the same side effects," said Hanson. "The main one is the memory impairment. It makes people appear that they're intoxicated more than anything."

If a victim believes they may have been raped - no matter if they believe a date rape drug was used or not - he or she should not change clothing, shower or urinate but instead proceed directly to a hospital and request a rape kit and, if necessary, testing for date rape drugs. Law enforcement should be contacted.

"Victims should have a preliminary rape exam with testing for date rape drugs," Hanson said. "The only way to know for sure if someone had date rape drugs in their system is with a drug test."

Protect yourself

There are several behavior modifications that can be made to protect yourself from a dangerous situation involving date rape drugs.

"Don't accept open drinks - alcoholic or non from others you don't know or don't trust," Hanson said. "At parties only accept drinks from bottles and cans, and be sure to open them yourself."

Hanson also advised partygoers to never leave a drink unattended or on a table, but keep it in their hands and keep an eye on it.

"Always get your drink directly from the bar tender," said Hanson. "Don't take your eyes off the bar tender and don't use a waitress or let someone go to the bar for you."

If there are signs of date rape drugs at a bar or party Hanson recommends leaving immediately and not returning.

"Especially if you or one of your friends is acting overly intoxicated you need to remove them from that situation if things don't add up," he said. "Keep your eyes and ears open... There may be something else going on."