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In this world there are many things that can cause mental and physical illness. One thing that has never gotten enough acknowledgment is date rape. Women are the main target but men can be affected also. Drugs of some sort are almost always used and it usually involves someone the victim knows. Lifelong issues with later relationships are often the result.

There are many questions concerning date rape. What are some of the physical and mental effects? Other questions could focus on the cultural effects. What are the views on date rape in today's society? What should I do if I am a victim? What should I do to protect myself?

The physical effects are mostly associated with the different types of drugs used when date rape occurs. Alcohol and Rohypnol are the two major drugs used. The groupings of the two drugs have awful physical side effects. Aggressive behavior and relaxation are only a few of the side effects. Impaired motor function such as, dizziness and blurred vision is also common. They work quickly when ingested and can cause a sensation of being paralyzed. Pregnancy and STD's are two other common physical effects.

The effects on the mental level are much vaster than the physical. The most common effect of being date raped is that the victim blames themselves. This is common because they knew their attacker in someway. The drugs used can also play a part in this because they may have blackouts. Therefore they may not remember what happened. Mental illness is another common result. Depression is the number one disorder associated with date rape. However, generalized anxiety disorder and post traumatic stress disorder are also common.

Today's society and how we react as a culture also plays a part. The way our society looks at date rape and how we define it also plays a part. The media has a vast effect on this subject. There is little to few stories on it and when there are they are generally violent and often result in someone's death. This may lead people to believe that date rape isn't rape unless it is violent and gruesome.

It's also very common for relationships of all kinds to be effected. The woman may have lasting trust issues with anyone, not just males. Relationships with boyfriends and husbands however, can have the most devastating after effects. This can also go into the workplace. The victim could have lasting issues with their bosses and co-workers. Isolation from friends

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