It only takes a few drops of GHB to allow a sexual predator the opportunity to rape an unsuspecting person. Police in Prince George just seized about a quart of it.
GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is, in its legitimate form, a general anesthetic but on the black market it is misused most commonly as a date rape drug. It has no smell or taste in small doses slipped into a drink, but has a powerful effect, especially loss of memory.
The seizure was made by Prince George RCMP on Friday during a midnight raid on a residence in the 1500 block of Alward Street. Other drugs were also found in the house, but the GHB was foremost in the minds of police, once testing confirmed what it was.
"A capful can render someone incapacitated. They found a litre," said Prince George RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass. "That is so concerning for police. That is somewhere between 300 and 500 typical doses."
Two arrests were made in the residence and more are possible. Douglass said the two cuffed at the scene were a male and a female, both in their 30's, both residents of Prince George "and both associated to organized crime groups." Charges are also pending against two other adult male residents of the city.
"There is a market for rapists, but also for people who purposely want to take it themselves," due to the rapid way it produces similar effects to alcohol, said Douglass. (Abuse of GHB has been linked to many deaths and repeated use has a long list of damaging side effects.)
He said victims usually find out they have been dosed only after they "come to" feeling like they are suffering from a hangover, and have a major memory gap from the hours before. Perpetrators will often ply a victim with alcohol, or target someone already drinking, then slip the GHB into their drink.
Anyone who has a suspicion they have ingested GHB should, said Douglass, get themselves to the hospital as quickly as possible, because GHB is easier to detect the earlier it is discovered.
"It's best if you do not have a shower before going to the hospital, although that is a strong urge, especially if you believe the GHB led to unwanted sexual contact," Dougalss said. "Taking a shower washes away some evidence. Everyone involved in the medical community and in policing takes sexual assault very seriously and we want the best chance we can get to do something about it."
Although the Prince George RCMP have not received any increase in reports of sexual assault, we would like to remind the public to be cautious when attending social events:
- Never accept an open beverage from someone you don't know;
- Never leave you beverage unattended;
- Never leave friends alone with people you don't trust.
