TresSugar

Coasters That Detect Date-Rape Drugs in Drinks

TresSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Getting reminders that there are predatory men out there willing to spike your drink with date-rape drugs kinda keeps me from ever wanting to leave my apartment again, but at least for the brave bar flies out there, there are now coasters that can be used to detect two "popular" date-rape drugs, GHB (aka "Roofies") and ketamine.

Some bars are willing to fork over the 40 cents-per-coaster to hand these out to women so that they feel safe enough to drink at their bars. It's pretty shocking that this is common enough that a whole industry has been built around it. In case you didn't know, there's also the lip gloss that detects date-rape drugs. Sigh. To watch a news clip about a reserve law enforcement officer who was busted by a bartender using one of these coasters, read more.

Have You Ever Witnessed Someone Masturbating in Public?

TresSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:00:00 -0700

The one time I saw a man masturbating in public, I was so shocked that I just ran away from him as fast as possible. But a woman who saw a man pleasuring himself in the seat across from her on New York's 3 train found a way to snap back - she took a cell phone photo of him.

Armed with her evidence, she went down to the 32nd Precinct and filed a complaint. She was surprised to hear from the female officer who was helping her that this was not a matter for the police and she'd have to call 311 to complain to the city.

Considering public lewdness is a crime, the NYPD has subsequently launched a probe of the incident and released the cell phone photo of the perpetrator (see above).

Have you ever witnessed someone masturbating in public?

Commission Examines Not-So-Funny Reality of Prison Rape

TresSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0700

I find the topic of sexual abuse in prisons both depressing and compelling. On "the outside," rape is viewed as the price a convict should expect to pay for his or her crime. References to prison in everyday conversations or popular culture (like this soap as promotional product for the TV show Prison Break) typically involve jokes about rape. Once a criminal is involved, it seems like it's suddenly OK to joke about an otherwise taboo topic.

Although pop cultural references to sexual abuse in prison tend to be lighthearted and humorous, prison rape is a serious problem deserving attention. A federal commission was set up to look into prison rape, and the numbers are startling. According to the report released today, at least 60,000 inmates are sexually abused every year.

Based on the research, more prisoners claimed abuse by staff than by other inmates. In addition, short, young, gay, or female inmates were more likely to be victimized than other inmates.

Hopefully the common sense guidelines offered by the commission, such as strict background checks for staff and medical attention for victims, will keep inmates (who are human beings just like everyone else) safer and address the challenges prison rape presents to public health and inmate rehabilitation efforts.

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What to Do If You Are a Victim of Rape

DearSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Any type of forced sexual assault that you don't consent to is considered rape. It's a crime if the attacker is a stranger, if you know your attacker (85 percent of women do), if you're related to them, or even if they are your spouse. It's a crime even if you were drinking, doing drugs, given drugs, or too out of it to say no or fight back.

If you are the victim of a rape, here's what you should do:

Get to a close, safe place.
Immediately go to a hospital or ER. Don't shower or change your clothes. The doctor will examine you and collect evidence including pieces of hair, clothing fibers, saliva, and semen to be placed in a rape kit that may be later used by police or in a court of law.
If you are using hormonal birth control or an IUC then pregnancy is not likely, but if you're not, the doctor may recommend you take emergency birth control (Plan B).
Chances are that the rapist did not use a condom, so the doctor will most likely test you for STIs.
Since being sexually assaulted can have huge emotional and psychological ramifications, a therapist may be recommended. It's a good idea to talk to someone about your experience to help you cope with the strong feelings of sadness, disbelief, fear, guilt, and anxiety you may have.

Unfortunately in this day and age, it's necessary for young women to know and talk about rape, so do your fellow females a favor and pass this important information onto the women in your life that you care about.

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What You Should Know About Date-Rape Drugs

DearSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Since sexual assault is so prevalent, it's important to talk about how date-rape drugs could play a part. Staying educated about these drugs is a great way to keep yourself safe so check out the chart below to learn about three very popular date-rape drugs.

Drug	Appearance/Form	Effect on Person
GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid)	Liquid with no color or odor, white powder, or a pill.	Relaxation, dizziness, vomiting, sweating, unconsciousness, memory loss, coma, death.
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam): also called Rufies	A pill that dissolves in liquids. Newer pills turn the liquid blue, but older ones that have no color are still available.	Drowsiness, drunk {feeling}, problems talking, seeing, or moving, confusion, dizziness, loss of consciousness.
Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride)	White powder.	Hallucinations, problems breathing, feeling out of control, lost sense of time and identity, numbness, slurred speech, vomiting.

To find out how to protect yourself from being a victim of a date-rape drug, read more.

Although these tips might seem obvious, it can't hurt to refresh your memory, especially before a long weekend: Since these drugs are often dissolved in alcoholic drinks, never accept drinks from people you don't know and never let your drink out of your sight. Don't share drinks, drink from punch bowls, or drink anything that tastes or smells funky (GHB can have a salty flavor). And as always, drink responsibly and never drink and drive. Have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend!

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Girl Seeks Rape Justice on YouTube: Too Much Sharing?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:45:08 -0700

It's a grim addition to the court of YouTube: a Florida 16-year-old who says she's a victim in a rape case that's gone unprosecuted by the Orange County state attorney's office is airing her plea for justice on the video-sharing site.

In the video, she says, "Hi, my name is Crystal . . . I need some help. I didn't want to do it this way, but it's the only way I know that's going to work, that someone out there in the world is gonna listen to me. "The prosecutor wrote in her case file since Crystal was "a mere 1 month away" from turning 16, when it would be "legal to give consent," her case would not be prosecuted. Florida law states that a 15-year-old cannot give consent to sex. To see the danger behind this use of technology, read more.

Though the trend of turning to YouTube as a forum of last resort is growing, the founder of the organization RAINN says this is troubling. He says "A rape survivor's intention may be to reach out, and we encourage that, but this is a dangerous way to do it." If potential savior could see the plea for help, so could the original attacker. Some online confessions of rape include names, photos, and hometowns. The public information could give perpetrators a chance to find them or gain more satisfaction.

Though we've recently seen a video on YouTube inspire results at Fort Bragg, how much sharing is too much? Do you think it's important to expose the role of the justice system in this case? Are victims putting themselves more in danger?

States Must Pay for Anonymous Rape Exams

LibertySugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:00:20 -0700

Trauma and embarrassment prevent many rape victims from seeking medical help or contacting authorities immediately. In an effort to resolve more rape cases, anonymous rape kits will be available at hospitals, colleges, and clinics. This way, after the shock has worn off, and a victim decides to press charges, it will not be too late to present evidence.

Here's how it will work - rape kits include bags and other storage materials for physical evidence like hair, semen, or skin. During the exam, injuries are also photographed. Unlike typical exam kits, the evidence collected with anonymous kits will be stored in a sealed and numbered envelope, only to be opened by police if the victim requests it.

If states want to keep federal funding toward law enforcement and women shelters, provided by the Violence Against Women Act, they will have to pay for these "Jane Doe" rape exams kits, at $800 each.

Considering that as many as 60 percent of rapes are not reported, do you think this is a responsible way to enforce rape laws and make the community safer? What about the victims - will they be more likely to show their faces at a clinic if they know the evidence will be kept secret until they say otherwise?

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Chronic Groper Faces Life in Prison

LibertySugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:00:09 -0700

Freddie Johnson has been arrested 53 times for groping women on NYC subway trains. Now, he faces life in prison for his latest arrest, which came only two weeks after his release from prison.

This time, plainclothes officers recognized Freddie from police photos of repeat offenders. They followed him, while he groped a female passenger selected at random.

Gropers often attack in crowded areas, and almost always escape. Apparently, there is not a crossover of offenders that grope, and those that engage in rape or other serious sexual assault. According to a recent survey, 63 percent of respondents reported being sexually harassed in some way on the NYC subway.

Like graffiti - the negative impact of an anonymous grope seems less severe than other crimes; but both subway-prone crimes decrease the overall feeling of security in the community. Plus, unlike graffiti, which everyone sees, groping involves personal violation, not shared with all the other riders.

If Freddie Johnson is intent on re-offending, does New York have no choice but to lock him up forever? Or, should we spend tax money locking up more dangerous offenders, while suffering an occasional grope?

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What About Rapex?

DearSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:00:00 -0800

A little while ago, I told you about Fem Defence, the device a woman can wear to prick a predator who tries to rape her. You all had a lot to say about it, and user annalia05 mentioned that it was kind of like Rapex. Unlike FemDefense, this is a patented product. It's an antirape female condom that was designed by a South African inventor, wanting to give South African women a way to defend themselves against rape.

It's a tampon-sized device that a woman wears inside her. It clamps down on his penis causing pain and giving the woman a chance to get away from the attacker.

This form of defense is sure to spark debate so tell me your opinion about this this antirape condom. Do you think it could cause more harm than good, or are you all for anything that can help keep women safe from predators?

Facts About Rape

DearSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:00:00 -0800

When I think of my greatest fears, getting raped is on top of that list. So that's why whenever I go out, I always take precautions to make sure my girlfriends and I are as safe as possible. We never leave each other alone, let our drinks out of our sight, or let each other go home with guys we don't know and we always make sure we all have a safe way to get home.

Since rape and sexual assault are such a huge problem, I thought it would be good to know the facts. Take this quiz and see what you know.

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Take the quiz