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"DATE-RAPE DRUGS" ARE ON
THE RISE, UN WARNS
So-called date-rape drugs
are on the rise, according to the United Nations drug control agency's annual
report. The International Narcotics
Control Board says tough measures against the best-known drug, Rohypnol, have
worked. But sexual abusers are
turning to alternative substances subject to less stringent international
controls. It wants these placed on
governments' controlled substances lists and for manufacturers to develop
safety features such as dyes and flavourings. Professor Hamid Ghodse, of
the International Narcotics Control Board, said: "These drugs are used
so as to tremendously reduce people's resistance to unwanted sexual activity
and then subsequently they might not even remember what happened." Sexually assaulting In the But both substances also
have legitimate uses, making it harder to keep them out of the hands of
criminals. In March 2009, Worboys gave his victims
drinks laced with sedatives. Many of the women could only recall falling
asleep in his taxi before waking up at home. Illegal pharmacies Others were left with
flashbacks and vague memories of Worboys sitting beside them. Drug traffickers are also
increasingly using illegal pharmacies based overseas, the report says. Orders are placed via the
internet or telephone call centres, with no prescription or other
authorisation required. 'Hidden problem' The report calls on
individual governments to take appropriate action to prevent the misuse of
modern communication technology. The Vienna-based agency
also comments on the widespread abuse of prescription drugs such as morphine,
codeine and methadone, calling it a "hidden problem". In some countries, more
people are abusing these drugs than the combined number of people taking
heroin, cocaine and ecstasy, it says. In the |
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