5/30/08 - Took Sheriff Beary’s name off. tolerance and dependence can develop if Effects of Rohypnol benzodiazepines are taken regularly in high Taken alone, flunitrazepam is unlikely to cause doses over prolonged periods of time. death even if an overdose is taken. However, in ORANGE COUNTY combination with alcohol, the safety margin is Other sedative-hypnotics which are reduced and it is more likely to be lethal due to abused include gluthethimide (Doriden), enhanced central nervous system depression. SHERIFF ethchlorvynol (Placidyl), and methaqualone Rohypnol intoxication is generally associated (Sopor, Quaalude). with impaired judgment and impaired motor What is methaqualone? skills. Respiratory depression, aspiration Methaqualone (“sopors” or “ludes”) was and death can occur when mixed with other originally prescribed to reduce anxiety during drugs. Chemically a “downer”, the drug the day and as a sleeping aid. It is one of the has a paradoxical effect: users can become most commonly abused drugs and can cause aggressive and do things like slam dancing both physical and psychological dependence. which can be physically damaging because The dangers from abusing methaqualone can the participants do not know when they are include injury or death from car accidents hurt. Repeated use can lead to physical and caused by faulty judgment and drowsiness, psychological dependence. Amnesia may and convulsions. An overdose can cause a occur which prevents users from remembering coma that could lead to death. how or why they took the drug. Withdrawal symptoms range from headache, muscle What is Rohypnol? pain, and confusion to hallucinations and Rohypnol, generically Flunitrazepam, is a convulsions. Seizures may occur a week or benzodiazepine prescribed as a sleeping pill. more after cessation of use. Thus, medically It is marketed in Mexico, South America, supervised detoxification using diminishing Europe and Asia by Hoffman-Laroche. An doses of other benzodiazepines is essential. approved prescription medication in much of the world, it is not approved for sale in the United States. It is the most widely prescribed sedative in Europe. WHERE TO CALL Known on the street as rophies, roofies, ruffies, R2, roofenol, roche, and roachies. UPPERS & Rohypnol abuse in the United States was first reported in South Florida in 1993. The street price for a single tablet may vary from as low as 50 cents a day up to $8.00 per tablet. It is called the “date rape drug” and is reported as For more information or to schedule a DOWNERS being one of the “in” drugs on high school and presentation on drug abuse, contact: college campuses. Roofies are often mixed with alcohol, marijuana or cocaine to produce a rapid and dramatic high. Even when used Orange County Sheriff’s Office alone, users can appear extremely intoxicated, Crime Prevention Unit with slurred speech, no coordination, swaying and bloodshot eyes...with no odor of alcohol. 407-254-7106 The drug has been added to punch and other drinks at fraternity parties and college social Emergency 9-1-1 gatherings, reportedly in hopes of lowering sexual inhibitions among female party Non-Emergency participants. 407-836-HELP (4357) 10-1423D (10/12) DRUG PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS LOOK FOR DANGERS What are stimulants? What are barbiturates? Stimulants (“uppers”) refer to several groups violent, behavior. These symptoms usually Barbiturates are often called “barbs” and of drugs that tend to increase alertness and disappear when people stop using the drug. “downers.” Barbiturates that are commonly physical activity. Some people use stimulants abused include amobarbital (Amytal), to counteract the drowsiness or “down” pentobarbital (Nembutal), and secobarbital feeling caused by sleeping pills or alcohol. What about long-term effects? (Seconal). These drugs are sold in capsules This up/down cycle is extremely hard on the Long-term heavy use of amphetamines can and tablets or sometimes in liquid form or body and is dangerous. lead to malnutrition, skin disorder, ulcers, suppositories. and various diseases that come from vitamin What are amphetamines? Amphetamines include three closely related deficiencies. Lack of sleep, weight loss, What are the effects of drugs - amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and depression also result from regular barbiturates when they are and methamphetamine. Their street names use. Frequent use of large amounts of abused? include: “speed, “white crosses”, “uppers”, amphetamines can produce brain damage that The effects of barbiturates are, in many “dexies”, “bennies”, and “crystal.” In pure results in speech and thought disturbances. ways, similar to the effects of alcohol. Small form, they are yellowish crystals that are In addition, users who inject amphetamines amounts produce calmness and relaxed manufactured in tablet or capsule form. intravenously can get serious and life- muscles. Larger doses can cause slurred Abusers also sniff the crystals or make a threatening infections from equipment that speech, staggering gait, poor judgment, and solution and inject it. slow, uncertain reflexes. These effects make it is contaminated. Injecting them can cause dangerous to drive a car or operate machinery. lung or heart disease and other diseases of Large doses can cause unconsciousness and What are the physical effects of the blood vessels, which can be fatal. Kidney amphetamines? death. An amphetamine increases heart and breathing damage, stroke, or other tissue damage also rates, elevates blood pressure, dilates pupils, may occur. How dangerous are and decreases appetite. In addition, the user can barbiturates? experience a dry mouth, sweating, headache, Can people become dependent Barbiturate overdose is a factor in nearly blurred vision, dizziness, sleeplessness, and on amphetamines? one-third of all reported drug-related deaths. anxiety. An amphetamine injection creates YES. Some people report a psychological Accidental deaths sometimes occur when a sudden increase in blood pressure that can dependence, a feeling that the drug is a user takes one dose, becomes confused cause death from stroke, a very high fever, or essential to their normal functioning. These and unintentionally takes additional or heart failure. users continue to use amphetamines to larger doses. With barbiturates there is less avoid the “down” mood when the drug’s difference between the amount that produces How do amphetamine users effects wear off. In addition, people who sleep and the amount that kills. Furthermore, feel? use amphetamines regularly may develop barbiturate withdrawal can be more serious Users report feeling restless, anxious, and than heroin withdrawal. moody. Higher doses intensify the effects tolerance, the need to take larger doses to get causing the user to become excited, and the same initial effect. talkative, and to have a false sense of self- What other sedative-hypnotics confidence and power. People who use large When people stop using amphetamines are abused? amounts of amphetamines over a long period abruptly, they may experience fatigue, long Other sedative-hypnotics can be abused, of time also can develop an amphetamine periods of sleep, irritability, hunger, and including the benzodiazepines. Diazepam psychosis: seeing, hearing, and feeling things depression. The length and severity of the (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), and that do not exist (hallucinations), having depression seem to be related to how much chlorazepate (Tranxene) are examples of irrational thoughts or beliefs (delusions), and and how often the amphetamines are used. benzodiazepines. These drugs are also feeling as though people are out to get them sold on the streets as downers. As with the (paranoia.) People in this extremely suspicious barbiturates, state frequently exhibit bizarre, sometimes .