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Peterellis.org.nz
Home / Moral Panics / Drug
Rape urban myth Drug-rapes
- Taranaki Hysteria December 2006 |
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Mary Wilson There are fears the incidence of drug
rape in NZ could be more widespread than previously thought. Two weeks ago
nine women in Taranaki came forward to say they had been drug raped. Now
Hawera Rape Crisis which runs a nationwide call centre has received calls
from another 23 drug rape victims from across the country who have rung in as
a result of the publicity. Pam Bassett from the call centre says some of the
rapes are historical and some are more recent but they've all left their
victims upset, angry and confused. The Rape Crisis National spokesperson
Andrea Black says the calls may be just the tip of the ice berg. She is with
us now. Good evening. Andrea Black Good evening Mary. Mary Wilson There's a very common pattern from these women. They all
pretty much have the same story to tell or not? Andrea Black Yes. In general, when there is a
situation of what is commonly called drug rape there are very similar
incidents, situations and experiences that people are suffering from, both
male and female rapes are being reported or either historical or current
also. Mary Wilson So they feel ill, typically at the venue, leave and then
black out and wake up sometime later? Andrea Black Not always as cut and dried as that
but often some of the drugs that are available people don't actually black
out they're just not conscious of what is happening to them. Mary Wilson And how do they know they've been attacked? Andrea Black Often there are traumatic bruising,
lesions, tissue damage and those kinds of things. Absolutely. Mary Wilson And they've come to where, presumably not at the person's
place? Andrea Black All situations can be covered both in
public places. Sexual violence occurs in the victim's home and in the
perpetrators home. Mary Wilson And in the latter case, in that last case, would they be
more likely to contact the police? If they actually have some idea of what's
happened and who is responsible? Andrea Black In general across the board with
incidents of sexual violence people will take two two paths. They'll either
not say anything and live with what's happened to them, or they will tell
someone. They'll tell a friend, a family member or a professional. Many of
the calls will come through to Rape Crisis help centres across the country
and then people are talked through what is best for them, what are the
options that they prefer. We do advise that if people have any kind of trauma
to their body and they suspect that they have a loss of memory, a block of a
period of time that they go to their doctor, they seek professional help. Mary Wilson Have any of the 23 women who have rung recently done
that? Andrea Black I couldn't actually talk specifically
about the cases. I would imagine that some would have done that. Yes. Mary Wilson Thanks very much for your time. That's Andrea Black. She
is the national spokesperson for Rape Crisis |
