CLUBBERS have been praised for their response to the anti drug-rape campaign in Ipswich town centre.

CLUBBERS have been praised for their response to the anti drug-rape campaign in Ipswich town centre.

The weekend DrugRape Trust roadshow was held in Cardinal Park at the weekend as an educational initiative on the dangers of date rape drugs.

Held over two nights – from 9pm until 2am – at the weekend the roadshow aimed to highlight the hazards of leaving drinks unattended and accepting drinks from strangers.

Campaigner Sarah-Louise Pemberton told The Evening Star: "The response has been very good and at the end of the day no education is wasted education.

"It's all about raising awareness of the problem and making sure people know how to prevent it."

The roadshow targeted both men and woman in putting the message across.

Stuart Buttle, 25, of Warrington Road, Ipswich, had first hand experience of the growing problem as his friend had his drink spiked while they were on a lad's holiday in Ibiza.

He said: "One of my mates got stitched up with a date rape drug and he couldn't remember a thing about the whole night."

Both he and his friend were both 18 when the incident happened but Stuart believes that the problem affects all ages.

He said: "It doesn't matter how old you are. Most people think it effects people aged between 18 and 23 – and it probably does – but that doesn't mean it can't effect other ages."

Lisa Thorpe, 21, of Henley Court, Ipswich, was aware of the problem but has no first hand experience of it.

She said: "I have not seen it in Ipswich before but with bottles I put my finger over the top so people can't put anything in it.

Joining the campaigners from the DrugRape Trust were paramedics Drew Gouldie and Lynne Coaker, of the East Anglian Ambulance Trust.

WEB LINK

www.drugrapetrust.org