2023-11-24 10:02:53
Chemical submission has been at the heart of the news since the start of the Joël Guerriau affair. The senator from Loire-Atlantique is suspected of having administered a drug to Modem MP Sandrine Josso with a view to sexual assault. This modus operandi, which consists of drugging a person without their knowledge to commit a crime or misdemeanor, in particular rape, sexual assault or theft, is common. And it is not limited to GHB slipped into the drink of a stranger in a nightclub, but can also be used by a loved one in the friendly, family or professional sphere.
What are the first signs of chemical submission and the reflexes to adopt in the event that you become a victim? 20 Minutes asked several experts.
An abolition of control
While GHB is often cited as the “rapist drug,” many other substances are used to chemically subjugate a person. Drugs, first of all, such as GBL, ecstasy or MDMA, but also drugs widely prescribed in France such as antihistamines or benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Lexomil, etc.).
Although the effects differ between each product, they all have one thing in common: loss of control. And most, except ecstasy and MDMA, have sedative properties. “What is sought is the abolition of control and therefore of resistance,” summarizes Hervé Martini, addictologist and president of the Addictions France association. With benzodiazepines, we find ourselves in a state of drowsiness, of derealization, or even an ambivalent state of euphoria. »
Balance problem, extreme fatigue and micro-hallucinations
When in doubt regarding a drink or food ingested, it is important to ask the right questions. Do I have good balance? Am I reasonably sleepy? Is my alertness normal? Do I have a loss of bearings, with micro-hallucinations? If the answers are positive, it is very likely that you were drugged without your knowledge. And these are not the only clues. Some drugs, like ecstasy or MDMA, are strong in taste. “As soon as the drink tastes weird, you put your glass down straight away,” says addiction psychiatrist Philippe Batel. However, the substances used are often odorless and can go completely unnoticed when mixed into a drink.
Other effects may also be felt. “Coke and ecstasy create a feeling of loss of control over one’s impulses and strong excitement,” explains Michaël Bisch, addictologist psychiatrist and vice-president of the French Federation of Addictology. If GHB also increases libido tenfold, it also causes amnesia. “The mixture of alcohol and benzodiazepines can also cause memory loss,” continues Philippe Batel. And the effects of each product are increased tenfold if they are combined with alcohol consumption.
Take the suspect bottle as evidence
So if you have just realized that you are a victim of chemical submission, what should you do? The first thing is to get safe. Flee, if possible. Alert emergency services by calling 15 or 17 and notify relatives. Obviously, stop drinking or eating the questionable content immediately, and do not let anyone close to you taste it to see if it is really suspicious. If possible, taking the bottle or dish in question with you may be wise, in order to have proof of the chemical submission.
Finally, it is recommended to remain in a semi-sitting position to avoid falling. If the victim is unconscious, he must be placed in a sideways safety position so that he does not choke on his vomit. “Witnesses or relatives must stay by her side throughout to talk to her and keep her vigilant,” adds Hervé Martini.
No need to make yourself vomit or drink a lot of water
Although it may seem like a good solution, making yourself vomit is completely unnecessary. “Trying to regurgitate a tablet is futile because the capsules used are crushed and the drugs are in liquid or powder form,” warns Michaël Bisch. It is all the more useless because if you feel the effects, it is because the product is already in the blood and the brain. » No need to drink or eat in large quantities either to try to reduce the effects of the drug. “Contrary to what we believe with alcohol, drinking a lot of water does not eliminate the substance more quickly,” insists the doctor.
It is then advisable to immediately go to the emergency room, to a forensic unit, in order to carry out toxicological analyses. “Most substances only stay a few hours in the blood, a few days in the urine and a few weeks in the hair,” recalls Michaël Bisch. And GHB is no longer detectable following just twelve hours. Hence the interest in being taken care of as quickly as possible.
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