Narcotic Educational Foundation of America Drug Abuse Education Provider of the: California Narcotic Officers’ Association ROHYPNOL: “THE DATE RAPE DRUG”

QUICK FACTS: Rohypnol, known as “roofies” and roaches,” is a sedative-hypnotic drug. Increasing dosages produces signs of progressive central nervous system depression ranging from sedation to sleep. Chronic use of high doses leads to the development of tolerance, but a level of intoxication can always be reached if the dose is high enough. Chronic use of large doses also leads to physical dependence and withdrawal if usage is abruptly stopped. Withdrawal symptoms can be lessened to a certain extent if a drug from another class of sedatives is substituted. When drugs from this class are taken together, one sees a far greater central nervous system depressant effect than otherwise would be expected, especially with alcohol. This is called “synergism.” Overdose will cause mental clouding, loss of muscular coordination, and eventually respiratory arrest.

HISTORY OF DRUG: Not since the advent of “ICE,” has A PERSON UNDER THE History (continued from column 1) there been a drug that has caused such a stir in social and criminal justice INFLUENCE MAY Benzodiazepines are addictive, and circles. EXHIBIT: require medical supervision during the withdrawal or detoxification. Rohypnol, known as “roofies” or SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE “roaches,” is a member of the In Southern California, the drug was benzodiazepine family of drugs. Also ♦ Droopy eyelids smuggled across the border from known by its generic name, Rohypnol Mexico. In the late 1980’s heroin addicts possesses many of the same properties ♦ Bloodshot, watery eyes in Los Angeles would use the and qualities as Valium. However, it benzodiazepines to prolong the effects of is approximately five to ten times ♦ Slow, slurred speech heroin, or in combinations with more potent than Valium in its methadone or codeine 3’s and 4’s, to sedating effect. ♦ Impaired judgment cause a state of euphoria similar to heroin. Hard core alcoholics have been The benzodiazepines have been ♦ Impaired motor skills using Rohypnol at the maximum dosage. marketed in the United States for This would mimic the effect of a blood about twenty-five years. Today, and ♦ Disinhibition alcohol content of approximately .15% for the past several years they have to .30%. been the most frequently prescribed ♦ Amnesia class of drugs. Rohypnol is one of the Rohypnol comes in tablet form and benzodiazepines that is NOT marketed ♦ Dizziness injectables for surgical settings. The for use in the United States. It is dosage units are .5 milligrams, 1 marketed in 64 other countries ♦ Confusion milligram, 2 milligram, and 4 milligrams. including Mexico. Rohypnol is a (Continued page 2, column 3) prescription benzodiazepine that is ♦ Excitability/aggression primarily used as a preoperative sedative and is the third most SYMPTOMS OF OVERDOSE prescribed sleeping medication worldwide. ♦ Drowsiness Benzodiazepines, when taken alone, ♦ are relatively safe medications that are Mental confusion therapeutically used in the treatment of insomnia, seizure, and anxiety ♦ Lethargy disorders, and has clinical uses in anesthesia. However, if taken with SERIOUS OVERDOSE alcohol, the benzodiazepines can have a multiplicative or synergistic effect, ♦ Poor coordination which can be deadly to the user. ♦ Reduced reflexes (continued column 3, this page) BENZODIAZEPINE History - (continued from page 1, column 3) PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE STREET NAMES:

♦ Rohypnol use causes dependence in ROACHIES The tablets are usually distributed in humans. Once dependence has bubble packaging called blister-pack. ♦ developed, abstention induces LA ROCHA Rohypnol, like other benzodiazepines, withdrawal symptoms, including exerts its depressive effect by headache, muscle pain, extreme ♦ ROPE facilitating the inhibitory effects of the anxiety, tension, restlessness, neurotransmitter GABA. It rapidly confusion, and irritability. Numbness, ♦ RIB ROCHE distributes to tissues and is about ten tingling of the extremities, loss of times as potent as diazepam. The identity, hallucinations, delirium, ♦ ROOFIES depressive effects last from 8 to 12 convulsions, shock and cardiovascular hours. The tablets are sometimes collapse also may occur. Withdrawal ♦ RUFFIES crushed and “snorted” to hasten the seizures can occur a week or more onset and intensity of the effect. There after cessation of use. As with other ♦ MEXICAN VALIUM are anecdotal reports of the drug being benzodiazepines, treatment for smoked. Rohypnol dependence must be ♦ R-2 AMNESIA-PRODUCING gradual, with use tapering off.

♦ ROACH - 2 EFFECTS Rohypnol is touted as an effective

“parachute” or remedy for the Police Departments in several parts of ♦ CHE depression that follows a stimulant the country report that after ingestion of high. Coming down off of cocaine “roofies”several young women have ♦ can be really harsh. People take ROACHE VITAMINS reported waking up in frat houses with Rohypnol to ease the crash. Reports no clothes on, finding themselves in indicate that Rohypnol is used by unfamiliar surroundings with unfamiliar heroin addicts to allay withdrawal people, or having been sexually symptoms, and to gain a state of assaulted. An amnesia-producing effect oblivion. A HOUSEWIFE’S of “roofies” may prevent users from remembering how or why they took the “LITTLE HELPER” drug or even that they were given it by The benzodiazepines enabled millions of others. This makes investigation of “DATE RAPE” housewives to “get by with a little help sexually related or other offenses very HOW CAN IT HAPPEN? from their friends.” These substances difficult and may account for repeated were the subject of heavy advertising, reports of “date rapes” involving the use of this drug. In some cases, the victim may first be much of it depicting women in need of given marijuana to smoke, which will relief from tension and anxiety. Drug make her thirsty. Because Rohypnol companies offered their products as aids dissolves rapidly, and is tasteless, in coping with the normal problems of colorless, and odorless, it can be life. Consumers often become so dropped directly into the drink. dependent on these substances that they could not function without them, having The victim will feel the effects within lost the ability to deal with normal levels about ten (10) minutes, although the of stress. As a result of unfavorable full impact does not hit her for at least attention by health and consumer an hour. This gives the suspected organizations, the drug manufacturers rapist time to casually exhort the began to shift their focus, but still confused victim to his car and drive promoted their abilities of handling away. Since the victim was seen both stress. drinking inside a nightclub and staggering out, the suspected person Even though Rohypnol is not legally has a room full of people to testify that sold in the United States, the the victim got drunk and voluntarily pharmaceutical companies are fighting left with him. the scheduling of this drug as a Schedule I. They believe that as the Within approximately fifteen (15) United States goes so goes many other minutes of ingesting the Rohypnol, the countries who have ties to the U.S. This would limit the availability of this drug worldwide. (Continued on page 3, column 1) Date Rape- (Continued from page 2, column 1) victim will feel drunk and confused. POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE INTOXICATION AND This may be followed by hot and cold IS IT HIGH? OVERDOSE flashes, as well as nausea, followed by the inability to speak clearly, and the The benzodiazepines have an upper limit An individual intoxicated on Rohypnol apparent partial paralysis of the of effectiveness — after a certain point. It will appear the same as someone victim's limbs. Eventually the victim is reported that increasing the dosage intoxicated on alcohol or other will pass out, but may wake up beyond the upper limit will not increase sleeping pills. Manifestations include intermittently during the rape. the effect, and overdoses are rarely fatal. It slurred speech, impaired judgment, and is further reported that even when a difficulty walking. Pupil size is not a One of Rohypnol’s unique benzodiazepine is taken in an overdose of reliable indicator of use. Some people characteristics is the loss of memory 50 to 100 times the usual therapeutic dose, are easily irritated and may have angry suffered by the victim. (Medical fatalities from respiratory depression are outbursts with little provocation. Some literature indicates that this side effect rare. A life-endangering central nervous people report personality changes and is much less severe with frequent system depression can result when participate in activities such as stealing Rohypnol use). Obviously, this is one benzodiazepines are used in conjunction or fighting that they would not do, or of the most difficult aspects of with alcohol. Certain researchers argue would realize were stupid, while sober. prosecuting a Rohypnol-rape case. In that the “potential for (benzodiazepine) People who seem to be awake and addition, Rohypnol remains in the abuse, addiction, tolerance and functioning may still not remember victim’s urine in a measurable amount dependence may be at least as great as what they did some of the time while for only about three days, which is barbiturates, perhaps even greater.” they were intoxicated (similar to an barely enough time for a drugged alcohol blackout). Some may be victim to sober up and contact the ROHYPNOL injured without any recollection of the police. Fortunately, in many cases the WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS? cause. The blackout may begin shortly person administering the drug could after ingestion of the tablets and last not resist bragging to friends about for many hours (memory for events Rohypnol reduces inhibitions and their Rohypnol conquests, which once prior to ingestion is usually not judgment, which may provoke violent or discovered, provides the potential for affected). aggressive behavior. It produces conscious compelling testimony at trial. anesthesia (the person is awake, but does Taken alone, even at high doses, not recall the incident), and if taken to benzodiazepines are unlikely to result excess will cause addiction that could be CATEGORIES OF in death. They commonly result in life-threatening if withdrawal is not ROHYPNOL USERS drowsiness, mental confusion or medically supervised. lethargy. In combination with alcohol, Rohypnol users appear to fall into two deaths have occurred. A person who main categories. The first group The user becomes exposed to a greater is difficult to arouse or who has includes young adult males who chance of physical exploitation. For difficulty breathing following search for their victims in local women particularly, this drug, in ingestion of one of these medications nightclubs. The second group combination with alcohol or without, with or without alcohol, should be includes high school students who are poses a significant risk. Tagged as the taken to an emergency room as soon as quickly adopting Rohypnol as their “date rape drug,” the drug can impair possible. drug of choice. This spans both public judgment and inhibitions to the extent that and private schools. a women may incoherently agree to sex.

Rohypnol has become popular with teenage gangs, where its use is frequently required for gang initiation. In addition, teenage girls who attend gang parties often willingly ingest Royhpnol, and are then raped by multiple persons after they pass out.

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