A Canadian citizen reported on social media that he had fallen victim to the “Goodnight Cinderella” scam in the southern region of Rio at the end of last month. Cameron Golinski, 35, said in a video that on October 26, two men drugged and robbed him. According to the victim, there is still evidence that she was sexually assaulted. The criminals allegedly took $3,000 (about R$16,000) and his cell phone.
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He said: “Two men drugged me and forced me to take them to my house. They used a drug to knock me unconscious, stole all my money and my phone, and the evidence indicates that I was sexually assaulted. I woke up two days later, naked and in my room, feeling like I had been run over by a bus.”
The phrase “Goodnight, Cinderella” is known for causing victims to fall into a state of unconsciousness and then develop a memory block, however, there are many drugs and medications that can be used in the scam. The main ones include clonazepam – a powerful sleeping pill – and ketamine, an anesthetic also used in veterinary medicine to sedate horses and other large animals.
Clonazepam, known by the trade name Rivotril, is widely used in lower doses in the treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, and psychotic syndromes, among other psychiatric disorders.
However, when taken in excess, it can cause problems such as low blood pressure, cardiorespiratory depression, and apnea. In some cases, it may lead the patient to enter a coma.
Ketamine is a strong sedative and can have hallucinogenic effects. The substance is also used as an illicit recreational drug due to its narcotic effect. Psychedelic drugs are those that radically alter certain neurotransmitters in the brain to produce a profound change in cognition, mood, and anxiety.
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According to experts, the range ranges from anxiolytics to sedatives for veterinary use. Substances that depress the central nervous system, inhibiting mental activity and acting mainly in the memory center.
How does the medicine work on the body?
The action of the drug in the body occurs in different stages, however, if left untreated and depending on the amount used, it may lead to death.
- Euphoria and release: At first, the victim may feel euphoric and released, symptoms that are confused with instantaneous and quick happiness that can easily be confused with intoxication.
- Confusion and disorientation: The euphoria then turns into possible mental confusion and disorientation with slurred speech and difficulty with motor coordination – and can also be easily confused with intoxication.
- Hypnotic effect: One of the most dangerous effects is the state of hypnosis, where the victim loses his ability to judge and carry out orders without question, such as handing over bank passwords or going somewhere else with criminals.
- Numbness and loss of consciousness: Finally, the affected person enters a state of deep drowsiness, where he is able to faint and remain unconscious for periods that can range from 12 to 24 hours or more.
Because the symptoms are very similar to those of drunkenness, criminals usually pick their victims in bars and mix the drug with the drink itself. Furthermore, in alcohol, the drug is not perceived or felt. Upon waking, the victim may still feel some amnesia, and not remember the events that occurred during the poisoning.
At high doses, these substances can cause respiratory depression, coma, and even death.
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“I remember being a little disoriented and then seeing everything black. Not thinking about anything, not dreaming about anything. Just passing out. It was a very traumatic experience,” Golinski said in a video.
To prevent “Goodnight, Cinderella,” recommended precautions are:
- Never leave your glass in a public environment and always monitor your drink
- Give preference to drinks in sealed containers, especially at parties. Manipulated ones, like caipirinhas, pass through other people’s hands before they reach the consumer.
- Observe the appearance and taste of the drink. Some substances change the color of the liquid upon contact with it, in addition to causing a change in flavour.
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