What is Rohypnol?
Rohypnol is a brand name for the generic drug called Flunitrazepam. It is a depressant and benzodiazepine, which is a class of drugs that are used primarily for treating anxiety. Rohypnol itself is not legally available for prescription in the United States, although it's legal in many other countries in Europe and Latin America as a treatment for insomnia.
Rohypnol is a small white tablet that can be swallowed, dissolved in a drink, or ground up and snorted. (The DEA also reports it can be an oblong olive green tablet.) It's often used by cocaine abusers to relieve the side effects of cocaine. It's also used as a date rape drug, which is where it gets many of its street names.
It's ten times more powerful than Valium, and it's often called a "club drug" because it tends to be abused by teens and young adults (primarily between 13 and 30) at nightclubs, concerts, and parties. It's often used with alcohol and other drugs, such as enhancing a heroin high or softening the coming down of cocaine or crack.
It's also considered a date rape drug because it's frequently used with alcohol to produce amnesia and to render its victim unconscious. It's used to incapacitate victims and render them unconscious, so they can't resist the assault.
Common names for Rohypnol
Common names for Rohypnol include:
Roofies, GBH drug, date rape drug, forget me drug, Circles, forget pill, La Rocha, lunch money, Mexican Valium, mind eraser, R2, reynolds, rib, roofinol, rope, ropies, and wolfies.
What are the Effects of Rohypnol?
Because Rohypnol is a depressant, it can have a depressive effect on a person's motor control. Rohypnol is frequently used to commit sexual assault because it can render victims incapacitated. Many users say the effects are paralysis, and it usually starts 20 – 30 minutes after taking it. The peak effect happens two hours later and can last up to 12 hours.
The person may collapse and be unable to move, although they're conscious and aware of what's happening and often times when an individual is roofied, they may have long term and short term side effects. However, Rohypnol also impairs memory function, which is why many sexual assault victims can't recall what happened to them after they were slipped the drug.
Signs of use in others include confusion, dizziness, loss of motor control, and even speaking. It can also cause nausea.
Rohypnol Short-Term Effects
Rohypnol has several short-term effects that result from being a depressant. A depressant is a drug that depresses your brain functions, motor functions, and even your heart and lung functions.
Loss of motor control.
Unable to move, stand, or sit up.
Loss of consciousness/blackouts
Slow breathing.
Disorientation and dizziness
Nausea
Problems speaking
Rohypnol Long-Term Effects
Psychological or physical dependence
Inhibition of sexual function
Sleep problems
Mental health issues such as depression
Respiratory and breathing problems
There are no studies that show definite long-term effects of Rohypnol use since it's not available for medical use in the United States. But because it's a benzodiazepine, it's possible to develop a tolerance and dependence as the person's body adapts to its use. This means people can develop a physical dependence and psychological dependence.
Since Rohypnol is often used in conjunction with other drugs or alcohol to enhance their effects. However, when combined with things like alcohol, it can cause heavy sedation and unconsciousness, as well as inhibit breathing and heart rate, which can lead to brain damage, coma, or death. This mixing can also lead to amnesia and to overdosing.
Rohypnol Drug Test Overview
We're often asked to perform drug tests for Rohypnol, whether it's for law enforcement, drug counseling, or even by potential victims of date rape.
People will sometimes report waking up and feeling disoriented and more hungover than they might have expected. They often have memory blackouts, not remembering where they are or how they got there.
If someone ever wakes up and suspects that they have been drugged, we can perform the appropriate tests to see if you have Rohypnol or other drugs in their system. The testing should be performed right away: The lingering effects of Rohypnol may be felt for 24 hours, but the drug will only stay in the body for up to three days.
Types of drug testing used to detect Rohypnol
Testing for Rohypnol is usually done through a urine or a hair test. You can provide a sample and ship it to us or come into one of our testing facilities.
We will conduct hair and/or urine tests for Rohypnol and other date rape drugs, including GammaHydroxybutyric Acid (GHB), benzodiazepines, NDMA, ketamine, plus several others.
US DEA/DOJ statistics and relevant information re: enforcement, prosecutions, and addiction related info
Rohypnol is popular with young adults and teens because it often costs less than $5 per tablet. It's often used in conjunction with other drugs or alcohol. It is smuggled into the United States from Latin America and Europe.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency,
Rohypnol® is a Schedule IV substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Rohypnol® is not approved for manufacture, sale, use, or importation to the United States. However, it is legally manufactured and marketed in other countries. Penalties for possession, trafficking, and distribution involving one gram or more are the same as those of a Schedule I drug.
