Date rape rug refers to any drug that can be used to assist in the commission of a sexual assault (date rape). The definition of the term is not absolute, because every drug that has been used for this purpose also has been taken willingly by people in some other situations. Date rape drugs commonly have sedative, hypnotic, dissociative, and/or amnesiac effects, and, when used to facilitate rape, are often added to a food or drink without the victim's knowledge.