THERE were no confirmed cases of the use of the so-called "date-rape" drug Rohypnol in the State last year. However, the jury was still out on whether the tranquilliser was being used here for such illicit purposes, according to a scientist attached to the State Laboratory.
Drugs were detected in 27 samples relating to cases of alleged sexual assault, including rape, during 1998. Alcohol was found in 37 per cent of the drug-containing samples of blood or urine, chemist Ms Siobhan Stokes told a conference held by the Academy of Medical Laboratory Science.
She said the State Laboratory, which supplies forensic evidence in criminal cases, was using highly-sensitive, multi-drug testing where there was a suspicion of "drug-facilitated date rape". These tests could detect extremely low levels of drugs in biological fluids.
While there were no confirmed cases of Rohypnol misuse in such cases, the laboratory on occasion had to deal with very small samples and in others there was a time lapse. "So, the jury is still out. We will be monitoring possible misuse very closely over the next year or two."
She said the presence of drugs did not necessarily facilitate sexual assault. Drug addicts or recreational drug users may be involved. It could be a case of a spiked drink, though Roche, manufacturers of Rohypnol, had incorporated a blue dye in its formulation which turned a drink blue if spiked.
She said the sleeping tablet was available only on prescription but was found on the black market. Drug addicts used it to sedate themselves, slow down or induce sleep.
There was some evidence internationally of it being used as "a knock-out drug" in alleged cases of "date-rape" because of its sedative and amnesia effects.
A US basketball player, Jerome Westbrook, who helps manage Ireland's senior men's team, said while drug testing within team sports might not be a rigorous as it should be, there was little indication of widespread drug misuse in such codes.
He accepted there was more drug misuse in sport than before but believed a distinction had to be made between team sports which required ball skills and sports, such as athletics and cycling, which had an emphasis on "individual physical performance".
He would not condone creatine use to improve strength or performance as it was "still suspect to possible health implications".
