What Is Rohypnol?

Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) is abenzodiazepine with general properties similar to those of othercentral nervous system (CNS) depressants likeValium. In Europe and South America, the drug is used for the short-term treatment ofinsomnia and sleep disorders. Like with many drugs used to facilitate sleep, it is possible for users of Rohypnol to develop an addiction to Rohypnol.

A powerful tranquilizer that is capable of rendering someone unconscious within minutes, Rohypnol can be taken by mouth as a whole tablet, crushed and snorted up the nose, injected, or dissolved in a liquid. The tablets are typically odorless, tasteless, and dissolve undetectably in liquid. In response to reports implicating Rohypnol in drug-facilitated sexual assaults, its manufacturer reformulated the tablets in an effort to prevent abuse. The drug now also comes in the form of green tablets that include a dye that turns blue when dissolved in liquid, making the drug more easily detected in some drinks. However, the original white tablets are still regularly available and sold illegally.

The most commonstreet names for Rohypnol include:

• Roofies
• Forget-me drug
• Date rape drug
• Roche
• Ruffles

Rohypnol is legally manufactured and available in about 60 countries around the world but is neither legally manufactured nor approved for sale within the US. Rohypnol is categorized as a Schedule IV narcotic, but the penalties for possession, trafficking, and distribution of Rohypnol are equal to those of a Schedule I substance. Possession of the drug is a third degree misdemeanor; selling it is a fourth degree felony.

Individuals in the United States have used Rohypnol illegally since the 1990s, often to help mitigate the depression that results from usingstimulants such ascocaine andmethamphetamine. Rohypnol is also frequently used in the commission of sexual assaults, which is why it is often knowns as the “Date Rape Drug.”

Teenagers andyoung adults, primarily individuals aged 13 to 30, are the principal users of Rohypnol. Most users are male. The drug is popular on high school and college campuses and at raves and clubs. According to the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future survey, nearly 2% of high school seniors in the US report having used Rohypnol at least once in the past year.

Effects Of Rohypnol

Rohypnol enters the bloodstream quickly, and users/victims often feel the effects within 15-20 minutes after ingestion. Rohypnol can cause sedation that lasts up to 12 hours. Peak effects of the drug take place between 45 minutes and 2 hours after ingestion, causing most to lose consciousness.

A single 2-milligram pill has the same potency as a 6-pack of beer, but the effects of the substances differ. Users can experience extreme sedation, dizziness, and loss of bodily control. Rohypnol causes a state of intoxication where users don’t care about what they do; nor can they stop what happens to them. Users also have great difficulty remembering what happened while they were under the influence of the drug; it wipes the memory.

Rohypnol use causes a number of adverse effects, which may last 12 hours or more, including:

Individuals who abuse Rohypnol often experience drowsiness, headaches, memory impairment, nightmares, confusion, and tremors. Although the drug is classified as a CNS depressant, Rohypnol can also induce aggression or excitability in some people.

Rohypnol users who inject the drug expose themselves to additional risks that are associated with intravenous administration and needle sharing, including contractingHIV andhepatitis.

Rohypnol Addiction

Regular use of Rohypnol results in increased tolerance to the drug, requiring users to take larger doses over time to achieve the same effect. Chronic or continued use of Rohypnol can result inphysical dependence and the appearance of withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued.

Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe and include headache, muscle pain, confusion,anxiety, restlessness, tension, numbness, delirium, shock, insomnia, and convulsions.Seizures caused by withdrawal from Rohypnol may occur more than a week after use has stopped. Regular use of Rohypnol over an extended period may also result in physical dependence and addiction.

Many individuals that are addicted to Rohypnol will combine the drug with other substances, such asalcohol orcocaine. Mixing sedatives likeRohypnol with alcohol can be extremely dangerous and potentially lethal, as both are CNS depressants and can slow breathing and heart rate. At high doses, the body may shut down and cause the individual to go into respiratory distress.

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Rohypnol Abuse And Sexual Assault

Rohypnol has been used to commit sexual assaults due to its ability to sedate and incapacitate unsuspecting victims. Due to the undetectable formulation of the drug, attackers are able to slip Rohypnol into unconsenting victims’ drinks.

The effects of the drug physically incapacitate the victim and cause impaired judgment or even full black outs, making the individual more vulnerable to sexual assault and rape. Because of the memory loss and confusion under the influence of this drug, rape cases associated with Rohypnol are difficult to prosecute. Victims may not be able to clearly recall the assault, the assailant, or the events surrounding the assault.

Sexual assault is common on college campuses, and this is largely due to the presence of drugs and alcohol. One study found that 15% of young women experienced incapacitated rape during their first year of college. Another recent study revealed that about 1 in 13 American college students report having been drugged or suspecting that they were drugged. Drink spiking, or adding drugs to a person’s drink without their knowledge or consent, is one of the most common ways in which college students facilitate sexual assault. Of the students who reported being drugged, 79% were female. Those who drugged others, or knew someone who had done so, reported that Rohypnol was used 32% of the time.

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Rohypnol Statistics

Get Help For Rohypnol Addiction

If you or a loved one have a Rohypnol problem, there is help available.Contact a treatment provider today. Treatment providers are available to answer any rehab-related questions.