Crusade to end date rape

To the Editor: Drug-facilitated sexual assault is increasing at an alarming rate. It's a serious issue that plagues all communities — rural and suburban. As a community it is important to acknowledge the problem of sexual violence and work together to end it. Date-rape drugs are administered in bars, house parties, and even restaurants. In most cases the offender is known by the victim. Sexual assault is one of the most committed but most unreported crimes in America. No one really knows how common drug-facilitated sexual assault is because today's research tools lack the means to measure the number of incidents. Date-rape drugs combined with alcohol produce powerful effects, even lethal, increasing someone's chance of becoming a victim of sexual assault. These drugs impair a person's ability to resist or want to resist sexual aggression and in some cases the victim has no memory of the assault. Mental Health Association in Orange County Inc., Rape Crisis Program has joined New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault statewide napkin campaign to inform residents of New York State how to protect themselves against becoming a victim of drug-facilitated sexual assault. Every rape crisis program across the state will launch the campaign into their community and introduce the campaign on a local level. Each napkin contains safety tips to prevent becoming a victim of a date-rape drug and what to do if someone thinks that they or a friend have been drugged. The napkin will be distributed throughout the bars and clubs in the community to raise consciousness of the prevalence of sexual assault in their area. You can take action to end drug-facilitated sexual violence by educating yourself, friends, and family about how to protect themselves against date-rape drugs. The following restaurant, bars and clubs have these napkins available: In Newburgh, Terrace Tavern, Gully's, Torches, and Front St.; in Middletown, 28 West and Caribe Garden Restaurant. Please support these establishments as they crusade to end sexual violence. Vanessa Green, director of crisis services Mental Health Association in Orange County