Rohypnol as a Date Rape Drug
- What is rohypnol?
- Street names of rohypnol
- How is rohypnol taken?
- Effects of rohypnol
- Dangers of rohypnol
- Is rohypnol addicitve?
What is Rohypnol?
- Rohypnol is a brand name for Flunitrazepam, a powerful sedative in the benzodiazepine class of drugs.
- Rohypnol has never been approved for use in the United States; however, it is legally prescribed for medical use in more than 50 foreign countries for the treatment of insomnia and as a pre-anesthetic.
- Widely known as a date-rape drug, Rohypnol is abused more frequently for other reasons -- to produce profound intoxication, boost the high of heroin, and modulate the effects of cocaine.
Street Names
- "Roofies" and "Roach"
How is it taken?
- Rohypnol is available in small white tablets that can be taken orally, ground up and dissolved in a drink, or snorted.
What are the effects of Rohypnol?
- The pharmacological effects of Rohypnol include sedation, muscle relaxation, reduction in anxiety and prevention of convulsions. It is seven to 10 times more potent than .
- Rohypnol may cause users to feel intoxicated; they may have slurred speech, impaired judgment and difficulty walking.
- Rohypnol also causes partial amnesia, and individuals are often unable to remember certain events that they experienced while under the influence of the drug.
- The effects appear 10 to 20 minutes after taking the drug.
- The effects last between four and 24 hours.
What are the dangers of Rohypnol?
- Immediate adverse effects include drowsiness, dizziness, loss of motor control, lack of coordination, slurred speech, confusion and gastrointestinal disturbances.
- Rohypnol can cause deep sedation, respiratory distress and blackouts that can last up to 24 hours.
- Chronic use can result in physical dependence and withdrawal syndrome when the drug is no longer used.
- There is a potential for overdose or death to occur, especially when mixed with alcohol or other drugs.
- Chronic use of flunitrazepam can result in physical and psychological dependence and the appearance of a withdrawal syndrome when the drug is discontinued.
Is it addictive?
Chronic use of flunitrazepam can result in physical and psychological dependence and the appearance of a withdrawal syndrome when the drug is discontinued.
APA Reference
Staff, H.
(2021, December 18). Rohypnol as a Date Rape Drug, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, October 8 from https://www.healthyplace.com/sex/date-rape/rohypnol-as-a-date-rape-drug
Last Updated: March 26, 2022