By Vittoria
Rising up, I realized that going out was a horror movie the place I used to be being set as much as be kidnapped and raped. I must be careful at events, as a result of somebody may attempt to put one thing in my drink, or attempt to get me too drunk with horrible intentions.
This previous New Years, I informed my dad I used to be heading to a celebration at my pal’s frat, and he stated, “I don’t know in the event you’re going to drink there, however in the event you do, simply bear in mind to not depart your drink round. At all times take it with you.”
I can’t take his recommendation with a grain of salt as a result of, sadly, it’s all too true. To not point out that I’ve been listening to this without end, that we’ve all been listening to this without end.
We reside in a tradition the place girls must be careful for themselves and one another. The place we’re informed all these methods to keep away from hazard reasonably than feeling safe in the truth that individuals ought to know to not trigger us hazard.
I’ve seen so many articles relating to methods to keep away from spiked drinks, however none focusing on the individuals who really spike the drinks. A few of the issues we’re informed to do embrace holding our hand over our drink, watching the bartender make it, not sharing drinks with anybody, ingesting from unopened glass bottles, inspecting the drink for apparent indicators of spiking, and so many, many extra.
However why do we must take these precautions? Shouldn’t we be capable to really feel protected with out having to all the time really feel anxious about potential hazard? Why is it, “Cowl your drink” reasonably than, “Don’t drug individuals”?
In lots of of those conditions, the results for drugging somebody are minimal, because it’s troublesome to prosecute for drink spiking. The reason being those that drink one thing that’s been tampered with normally have a fuzzy or non-existent reminiscence of what occurred.
By the point the incident is reported, the medicine will already be out of their system, so authorities overlook many of those conditions. Not solely that, however more often than not it’s achieved by somebody who the individual doesn’t know very nicely, and who can simply run away from the state of affairs with out ever having been noticed.
Take Maria Treme, for instance, a 30-year-old girl from New Orleans who was roofied by an unknown suspect whereas ingesting along with her pal at their native nation membership. She informed Channel 4 Information that when she awakened, she instantly knew she had been drugged, as she is aware of her limits with ingesting and may normally bear in mind occasions from the night time earlier than.
Eyewitnesses claimed she engaged in sexual activity on the membership with two totally different males and went residence with one other; nevertheless, there’s no proof as to who put the drug in her drink.
Not solely is that this an ideal instance of somebody getting away with such a heinous crime, but additionally the proper instance to show that it doesn’t simply occur at events.
It makes me unbelievably indignant to have to sit down right here and take heed to “Watch your drink” when there are individuals on the market who assume it’s okay to do s*** like this, and even angrier that many can get away with it so simply. Why has this grow to be a norm for our era? It’s grow to be so regular that it’s plastered throughout us in popular culture.
For instance, Bloomingdale’s advertising and marketing staff within the controversy relating to their advert about spiking your greatest pal’s eggnog.
Can we cease making it regular to be terrified of going to golf equipment and bars for worry of being drugged? Let’s break from this concept that our security can solely be decided by what we do to remain protected. Let or not it’s decided by what everybody can do to maintain us protected.
Women, take a break. Gents, watch your habits.
Vittoria is a author, writer, artist, activist, and former contributor to Unwritten. She runs the web site Plant Based mostly Punk Rock, a web site devoted to veganism and environmentalism.
This text was initially printed at Unwritten. Reprinted with permission from the writer.
