Sara Tilley is on CBC Radio Noon’s Crosstalk program right now to talk about date rape drugs. She was drugged two weeks ago while dancing at Distortion.

We’re really proud of Sara for speaking out about what happened to her. Her story has encouraged a lot of important media coverage of the issue.

Here’s a little list of some of those stories:

Woman suspects she was drugged in George Street bar, CBC
“I didn’t know where I was, what I was doing, but I was still mobile and able to speak. So, if I hadn’t been there with my friends it would have been very easy to manipulate me wherever you wanted me to go.”

George Street bartender says drug assaults not unusual, CBC
“However, an RNC spokesperson said complaints from bar customers about being drugged are rare. Chisholm speculated that’s because victims are embarrassed or not really sure what happened to them.”

‘Predatory drugs’ in bars pose problems, police warn, CBC
“The gentleman had a syringe, he had a bottle of GHB, and he simply was asking people, patrons of the club, ‘How many millilitres do you want to buy?’ They gave him the response, he drew that up into a syringe, and then dispensed it in a glass.”

Drugging Drinks, an editorial from The Telegram
“The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary issued a news release warning people about the problem and offering the usual warnings: have friends watch your drinks when you are in the washroom; don’t leave beverages unattended; don’t accept drinks from strangers; make sure you see your drink from the time that it’s being poured to the point when it reaches your hand. It’s all good advice, but it’s also about making potential victims responsible for the actions of others.”

Blaming the victim, The Scope’s Rant Farm (note that this is a reader-submitted rant, not an editorial by Scope writers/staff)
“I am appalled at the number of instances of drugs being slipped into drinks at George Street bars. What is even more appalling, though, is the number of people who place the blame on the men and women who are being drugged.”

You can hear Sara, along with Leslie McLeod of Marguerite’s Place, on Crosstalk at 12:35 pm today.

Downtown Community Watch St. John’s, a community-based initiative set up to address the problem of downtown druggings, is looking for people who have been drugged or have experienced drug-related assault. Check out their website for more information.