Rohypnol and GHB
Rohypnol
Rohypnol, the trade name for flunitrazepam, has been a concern
for the last few years because of its abuse as a "date
rape" drug. People may unknowingly be given the drug
which, when mixed with alcohol, can incapacitate victims and
prevent them from resisting sexual assault. Also, Rohypnol
can be lethal when mixed with alcohol and/or other depressants.
Rohypnol produces sedative-hypnotic effects including muscle
relaxation and amnesia; it can also produce dependence. Rohypnol
is not approved for use in the United States and its importation
is banned. Illicit use of Rohypnol began in Europe in the
1970s and started appearing in the United States in the early
1990s, where it became known as "rophies," "roofies,"
"roach," "rope," and the "date rape"
drug.
Another very similar drug is clonazepam, marketed in the
U.S. as Klonopin and in Mexico as Rivotril. It is sometimes
abused to enhance the effects of heroin and other opiates.
GHB
Since about 1990, GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) has been abused
in the U.S. for euphoric, sedative, and anabolic (body-building)
effects. GHB use associated with sexual assault has surpassed
Rohypnol use associated with sexual assault. 1
Coma and seizures can occur following abuse of GHB and, when
combined with methamphetamine, there appears to be an increased
risk of seizure. Combining use with other drugs such as alcohol
can result in nausea and difficulty breathing. GHB may also
produce withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors,
and sweating. Because of concern about Rohypnol, GHB, and
other similarly abused sedative-hypnotics, Congress passed
the "Drug-Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act
of 1996" in October 1996. This legislation increased
Federal penalties for use of any controlled substance to aid
in sexual assault.
Extent of Use
According to the 2002 Monitoring the future (MTF), NIDA's
nationwide annual survey of drug use among the Nation's high
school students, 0.3 percent of 8th-graders, 0.7 percent of
10th-graders, and 1.6 percent of 12th-graders used Rohypnol
in the 12 months prior to the survey.2
Use of GHB by high school students during the past year remained
relatively stable from 2001 to 2002, according to MTF findings.
In 2002, 0.8 percent of 8th-graders, 1.4 percent of 10th-graders,
and 1.5 percent of 12th-graders reported using the drug in
the 12 months leading up to the survey.3 Hospital emergency
department (ED) episodes involving GHB rose from 55 in 1994
to 4,969 in 2000, then declined in 2001 to 3,340. Among ED
mentions involving club drugs, however, only MDMA (ecstasy)
is cited more frequently than GHB.4
Other Information Sources
For additional information on Rohypnol and GHB, please also
see the NIDA InfoFacts on Club Drugs and visit www.clubdrugs.org.
For additional information on findings from the Community
Epidemiological Work Group, please also see the NIDA InfoFacts
on Nationwide Trends.
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1 This information is from the latest published proceedings
of NIDA's Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG). The information
covers current and emerging trends in drug abuse for 21 major
U.S. metropolitan areas, as shared at CEWG's June 2002 meeting.
2 Conducted annually since 1975, MTF assesses drug use and
attitudes among 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders, college students,
and young adults nationwide. The survey is conducted by the
University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research and
is funded by NIDA. Copies of the latest published survey may
be downloaded from www.monitoringthefuture.org.
3 Ibid ref. 2.
4 Emergency department data are from the annual Drug Abuse
Warning Network, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, DHHS. The survey provides
information about emergency department visits that are induced
by or related to the use of an illicit drug or the nonmedical
use of a legal drug. The latest annual data (2001) are available
at 1-800-729-6686 or online at www.samhsa.gov.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse
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