Danger of drugs that are odourless and tasteless

The three major groups of drugs used in date rape and drink-spiking crimes include GHB, ketamine and the benzodiazepines, which include Rohypnol.

All these drugs are made more dangerous by the fact that they are colourless, odourless and tasteless, making it easy to spike someone’s drink without them knowing.

The drugs can reduce a person’s ability to resist rape, robbery and other assaults.

Victims tend to undergo paralysis and fall asleep, often waking up with little or no memory of what happened when she or he was under the influence of the drug.

Such substances stay in the system for a relatively short time, as little as 12 hours for GHB, which can make it difficult to prosecute date-rape crimes as the evidence has disappeared.

People are recommended to always keep an eye on their drink, whether they are in a nightclub or at a house party.