Governments around the world must step up their efforts to limit access to "date-rape drugs," sedatives that are secretly added to a person's drink to limit their ability to resist sexual assault and remember it later, a watchdog said Wednesday.
Sexual predators can easily procure such date-rape drugs, despite existing efforts to curb their misuse, the International Narcotics Control Board said in its annual report.
Governments should quickly adopt measures to limit illegal access to such drugs, and increase public awareness about the risks of leaving food and drinks unattended at public events such as parties, the board said.
"The 'date-rape drug' phenomenon, although fairly new, is evolving rapidly as sexual abusers attempt to circumvent stricter drug controls by using substances not restricted by international drug conventions," the Vienna-based U.N. body said in a statement accompanying the report.
The misuse of flunitrazepam — sold under the brand name Rohypnol — has been reduced, thanks to international efforts, but the report said criminals are now using gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid — known as GHB — or ketamine and gamma-Butyrolactone, commonly referred to as GBL.
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