Comparable in general to Valium (diazepam), rohypnol is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine. It is used to induce anesthesia, as a pre-medication for surgeries, and as a short-term insomnia therapy.
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Since the 1990s, Rohypnol has been used illicitly as a sexual assault assistance and to alleviate sadness brought on by stimulant addiction, including cocaine and methamphetamine. Oftentimes in a bar or party, the victims were unintentionally given the so-called “date-rape drug” (also known as a “club drug”). The medication would cause severe amnesia, which would leave victims with little to no recall of the assault.
Similar to other benzodiazepines (such Ativan, Xanax, and Valium), Rohypnol has the following therapeutic effects:
sedation
muscular atrophy
decrease in anxiousness
suppression of seizures.
But compared to Valium, Rohypnol has sedative effects that are around seven to ten times greater. Rohypnol takes effect 15 to 20 minutes after intake, and its effects continue for around 4 to 6 hours. After administration, for at least 12 hours, certain side effects may still be present.
Why is the substance known as the date rape drug, Rohypnol?
One anticipated benzodiazepine side effect is amnesia. People who take rohypnol may develop partial amnesia, which makes it difficult for them to recall specific things that happened to them while they were using the medication. However, when rohypnol is taken illegally to support sexual assault, this effect becomes much more deadly. It’s possible that victims won’t remember the assault, the attacker, or the circumstances leading up to it.
How should one take rohypnol?
Rohypnol can be dissolved in a beverage before drinking, crushed and snorted up the nose, or taken as a full pill.
For different effects, rohypnol can also be combined with other illegal substances like cocaine or alcohol. Rohypnol can be used to lessen the agitation and anxiety associated with binge drinking large amounts of cocaine, or it can be used to make alcohol more intoxicating.
Is it possible to get Rohypnol in the US?
Rohypnol is not legally accessible, is not produced in the United States, and is not authorized for use in medicine.
Nonetheless, it is readily accessible in Mexico, Colombia, and Europe, where it is officially prescribed for the treatment of insomnia and as a pre-anesthetic in dozens of other nations. Rohypnol is frequently trafficked from foreign nations, such Mexico, into the United States.
DEA Drug Schedule for Rohypnol
In 1984, rohypnol was included to the Controlled Substances Act’s Schedule IV. Although they are categorized as having a lesser risk for misuse, schedule IV medications can cause physical or mental dependency.
However, the DEA states that the penalties for possessing, trafficking, and distributing one gram or more of rohypnol are the same as those for a Schedule I drug. Narcotics in Schedule I include heroin, LSD, and MDMA (Molly, Ecstasy).
Is it possible to find rohypnol in a urine drug test?
Urine samples must be taken within 72 hours after ingestion in order to be tested for rohypnol exposure using sensitive analytical techniques. Biological samples are frequently obtained from the patient when the drug’s effects have already worn off and just trace levels are still present in bodily fluids. Using common screening tests available in the US, it is difficult, if not impossible, to detect these residual quantities. Because of this, it is challenging to determine the total number of rapes in the US that were made possible by rohypnol.
The issue is exacerbated by the drug’s first effects of amnesia, which leave the victim unsure of the specifics of the rape. Due to this ambiguity, reporting the rape and providing the necessary biological samples for toxicological testing may be seriously delayed or even avoided.
How does Rohypnol appear?
In the US, rohypnol is no longer lawfully accessible.
Rohypnol is currently packaged as an oblong caplet that is bright green with a blue center. Previously, it was accessible as a white tablet that disintegrated without color, taste, or smell. This modification was made by the manufacturer to make it easier to spot manipulated beverages at bars. Clear liquids will become blue when the blue core is dissolved in them. However, the blue dye could not be visible when dissolved in liquids with deeper hues. It’s possible that generic Rohypnol doesn’t have the blue coloring.
What consequences does Rohypnol have?
Although rohypnol has gained notoriety for its use in date-rape, it is more commonly misused for other purposes. High school teenagers, college students, members of street gangs, people who go to rave parties, and those who misuse heroin and cocaine abuse it to induce extreme drunkenness, intensify the high from heroin, and lessen the effects of cocaine are among the groups that abuse it. It has been observed that the majority of Rohypnol abusers are teenagers and young men between the ages of 13 and 30.
Oral use of rohypnol is the norm, and it’s frequently mixed with alcohol. Using rohypnol has a number of negative consequences that might last for up to 12 hours, such as:
fatigue, sleep
lightheadedness
motor control loss
reduced response time
compromised judgment
inability to coordinate
speaking impediment
bewilderment
hostility or vivacity
lack of recall for things that happened whilst under the influence (amnesia)
stomach problems
greater dosages causing respiratory depression.
Can Rohypnol lead to addiction?
When Rohypnol is used continuously, it can cause physical dependency and the onset of withdrawal symptoms when the medication is stopped.
Rohypnol inhibits psychomotor and cognitive abilities, which has an impact on response time and driving ability. Because alcohol and this medication both depress the central nervous system and make each other more toxic, using them together raises serious concerns. Due to needle-sharing, injecting any illicit substance increases the user’s risk of developing hepatitis B and C, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and other blood-borne infections.
Like other benzodiazepines, rohypnol consumption can result in withdrawal. Long-term usage may cause negative effects such as anxiety, sleeplessness, seizures, and behavioral abnormalities. Some side effects, such sleeplessness, might show up just a few days into the prescription.