Police warn of narcotics, date-rape drugs for Carnival

Police on Wednesday advised people to be careful of dangerous substances like rohypnol (roofies), cannabis and other drugs during the Carnival season.

Special Investigations Unit Insp Wayne Stanley said people must know their limits when using certain drugs. He was speaking at the police press briefing at the Police Administration Building in PoS. He also advised the public to be on the lookout for date-rape drugs.

“As the Carnival season approaches, there is a growing concern of the misuse of illicit drugs and alcohol abuse. Abuse of these substances impairs judgement and concentration and puts the user at a great risk of sexual assault, robberies, kidnapping and road fatalities,” Stanley said.

He said the simple act of using edibles – food infused with cannabis – and combining it with alcohol may be too much for some and could lead to nausea and even vomiting.

“Nausea and vomiting is the body’s number one mechanism against alcohol poisoning. In some cases the user finds it difficult to concentrate. In extreme cases the user is at risk of ‘greening out,’ which involves panicking vomiting and impaired performance. Even though it is not life threatening, please know your limits,” Stanley said.

He advised that if you feel intoxicated get in contact with a trustworthy friend, and find a safe space to drink water.

He warned that people are at higher risk of being drugged with rohypnol during Carnival and to try to avoid sharing drinks with people and ensure to open your own drinks.

“These pills are tasteless, odourless and can be dissolved in liquid.”

He said signs include feeling highly intoxicated after taking a few sips or blacking out and waking up with no memory of the last few hours. In a question and answer session with the media Stanley said some people fail to report incidents of being drugged because they are sometimes unsure of what happened.

“If you suspect someone has been drugged, stop them from drinking any other intoxicants immediately. Move the person from the gathering. Contact relatives or trustworthy people and inform them about the situation. Contact the emergency department or go to an emergency department and stay with them until a relative arrives. If you see someone putting a substance in another’s drink make it your duty to inform the person that their drink has been contaminated.”