"Roofies" Becoming a Bigger Concern in Baton Rouge

The LSU community has recently seen an unusually high number of students reporting that they may have received a ‘roofie’ at local Baton Rouge establishments. Be aware of what you can do to protect yourself...

What do Roofies do?

Roofies (hypnotic sedative type drugs) cause sedation, a feeling of extreme intoxication, and amnesia. The liquid (usually GHB) or powdered pills (Rohypnol, Lortab, Vicodin) are dropped into your drink usually by someone who wants to take sexual advantage of you. About 10 minutes after ingestion, you'll start to feel very drunk-like and have difficulty speaking or moving as well as the inability to remember anything; eventually, you may pass out.

The drug's amnesiac effect lasts anywhere from six to eight hours; even if you are not passed out, you'll have no memory of anything that occurred while you were under the drug's influence, nor will you be able to defend yourself. Besides making you vulnerable to sexual assault, roofies can also cause nausea, seizures, coma, liver failure, and even death from respiratory depression.

How Can I Protect Myself?

• Roofies may cause an unusual salty/bitter taste when dissolved in any beverage; be alert to a strange taste in your drink. Small amounts may be undetectable in an alcoholic beverage.


• When placed in a light-colored drink, Rohypnol will turn the beverage bright blue. If your water origin and tonic turns blue, bring it to the LSU Police Department for testing and become especially alert; someone has tried to drug you. GHB, lortab and vicodin, as well as other sedative hypnotics won't change the color of your drink.


• If you suddenly feel unusually drunk after just a small amount of alcohol, quickly ask for help - you might have just a few minutes of alert behavior left to you.


• Don't drink anything you did not open yourself or that you didn't see being opened or poured.


• Don't accept a drink from someone you don't know unless you see it being opened or poured by a bartender. A note of caution – bartenders may be one of the people involved in dispensing the drug.


• Always watch your drink at parties and bars. If you leave your drink unattended, get a fresh one to be on the safe side. Taking a beverage from open containers, (i.e. a bowl) is extremely high risk.


• Have a friend drive to and from a party or bar with you to lessen your chances of being taken advantage of.


• Take care of your friends. If they seem disproportionately drunk, suddenly amorous, and "out of it," they may have been slipped a drug. Don't leave them alone.

(Some of these tips are reprinted with permission from Iona College.)

What Should I Do if I Suspect I've Been Sexually Assaulted?

• If you suspect that you have been sexually assaulted, do not shower, douche or otherwise destroy potential evidence.
• Seek medical attention at the Student Health Center (during regular hours of operation) or the hospital as soon as possible; evidence can be collected should you decide to so that you will have evidence of the assault.
• Seek assistance to help you through this traumatic event:

1. Contact a Sexual Assault Victims Advocate (SAVA) (www.lsu.edu/shc/225-578-5718 <http://www.lsu.edu/shc/225-578-5718> ),


2. Contact the LSU Mental Health Service, 578-8774, during regular hours of operation.


3. You can also contact the Rape Crisis Center, 225-383-7273 (24 hour),


4. or The PHONE, a 24 hour crisis line at 225-924-(LSU1)5781.


5. You should inform friends you trust, and you should consider getting professional counseling.

If you choose to file a police report, contact LSUPD at 225-578-3231.

Information in this blog provided by:

Katie McGee Barras
Assistant Dean of Students & Associate Director of Student Advocacy and Accountability
Louisiana State University
115 Johnston Hall

Shin Splint Prevention

Follow these basic exercises 4-5 times per week and you should see a reduction in the chronic pain associated with shin splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome).

Calf Stretching
Directions: Stand on a slant boards for 30 seconds straight-legged and with bent knees.
Goal: Stretch the gastroc and soleus.
Heel Walking (2 x 10 yards)
Directions: Walk on your heels keeping your toes off the ground.
Goal: Strengthen the muscles in the anterior compartment.
Toe Walking (2 x 10 yards)
Directions: Walk on your toes forward and backward for the entire time, keeping your heels off the ground.
Goal: Strengthen the muscles on the back of your lower leg and toes
Marble/Straw Pick-ups (3x)
Directions: Pick up marbles orand straws off the ground and put them back into a bucket.

Goal: Strengthen the muscles in your foot and toes to help absorb shock from running or pounding.

Ankle Theraband (3x12)
Directions: With a theraband tied to a solid stationary object like a sofa leg or table: (1) flex your foot bringing your toes toward your shin, then (2) point your toes down slightly turning your foot inward towards your other leg, next (3) flex your foot away from your other leg, and finally (4)point your toes down to the starting position.
Goal: Strengthen all the muscles of your lower leg.
Bosu-Ball Calf Raises (3x12)
Directions: On the outer part of the half ball (blue) or semi-soft surface, with no shoes, raise up onto your toes and slowly go back down.
Goal: Strengthen the muscles on the back of your leg and help with balance.
Ball Tosses on Foam Mat or Round Disc (3x10)
Directions: Stand on the green foam mat or soft rubber discs. Standing about 3-5 yeards aprt, have partner throw a ball to you, catch it and toss back.
Goal: Improve balance of your leg and strengthen the muscles of your lower leg and foot.

In addition to these exercises you need to warm up your lower leg either in a hot tub or with a moist-heat packs (10-15 minutes) before exercise and ice with either an ice bag or the cold-tub (10-15 minutes) following exercise. Stretching your calves throughout the day will be beneficial as well.

Exercise Routine Developed by: David Jennings, ATC & Alicia Grover, ATC

Supplement Watch: What Not To Buy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently issued a public health advisory warning consumers of nutritional and body building supplements from American Cellular Laboratories Inc. This company has been marketing and distributing body building products containing synthetic steroid substances. However, they are being marketed as dietary supplements.


Many of these products would certainly fall under the NCAA's Banned Substance list. Click on the link below to read the full story:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm173739.htm