ORONO – The University of Maine sent a campuswide e-mail alert after receiving reports from students who believe drugs may have been slipped into their drinks at area bars.

Robert Dana, UM dean of students, called the e-mail “a public health approach to prevention.”

“We have had a number of reports, and we want our students to get their heads picked up and make sure that they’re aware of potential things in the environment,” he said Monday.

The cases he has heard of have been reported to UM’s alcohol and drug education program staff.

“Nationally, this goes on a lot,” Dana said. “Unfortunately, horrible things have happened.”

The incidents seem to be occurring off campus, UM Public Safety Chief Noel March said Monday.

“One of the greatest concerns to the health and safety to any college or university campus are those who provide drugs or commit sexual assaults,” March said. “In the case of those who supply so-called ‘date rape’ drugs to unsuspecting college women, we have both types of offender all in one.”

Dana cited confidentiality law in refusing to discuss specific cases, but he said that the people who allegedly have been drugged were with friends who were able to take care of them.

“These students report that they have passed out, vomited and some have been transported to the local hospital,” Dana wrote in his e-mail to students.

He said there have been fewer than 10 reported incidents.

“If I heard about it once, that would probably been enough to get me to send the note,” Dana said.

The incidents allegedly occurred at more than one bar, and no charges have been filed.

“We’ve heard cases from where students had at least been in common at the same two places,” Dana said. “It’s hard to know if it happened there or elsewhere.

“If people hear about it, I think they’ll help us get immediately to the bottom of it,” Dana said.

“We don’t think it’s a big problem, but any presence of these types of drugs that are used to commit sexual assaults against victims who are unable to remember, and therefore unable to testify” is unacceptable, March said.

To protect themselves, Dana said, students should consider the following:

. Don’t accept drinks from other people, especially strangers.

. Open containers or bottles yourself, or ask that you see them be opened.

. Don’t share drinks.

. Don’t take drinks from punch bowls or other common open containers.

. Don’t drink anything that tastes or smells strange.

. Have a nondrinking friend with you to ensure that nothing happens.

. Keep an eye on the server or bartender.

. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Being impaired can put you at risk.

If you have concerns or an incident to report, call UM Public Safety at 581-4040, Orono police at 866-4000, UM alcohol and drug prevention program at 581-1423, UM Student Affairs at 581-1406, or the Safe Campus Project at 581-2515.

Date-rape drugs

Drug: GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid)

Street names: Georgia Home Boy or Liquid X

Form: Odorless, colorless liquid, white powder or pill

Sometimes tastes salty

Drug: Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)

Street name: Roofies

Form: Pill that dissolves in liquids

Drug: Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride)

Street name: Special K

Form: White powder

Indications you may have been drugged

Memory loss

Loss of consciousness

Physical helplessness

Vomiting

Feeling impaired

Rapid onset of intoxication or feeling more inebriated than one would expect

Source: Dr. Robert Dana, UM Dean of Students