What does Rohypnol look like? What does Rohypnol look like?

Who abuses Rohypnol? Who abuses Rohypnol? What is it ca

What is it ca

What is Rohypnol? What is Rohypnol?

What are the risks? What are the risks?

What is Rohypnol? How is Rohypnol abused? How is Rohypnol abused?What does Rohypnol look like?

Rohypnol, a trade name for the drug

flunitrazepam, is a central nervoussystem depressant. The drug is legallymanufactured and available outsidethe United States but is neithermanufactured nor approved for salewithin the United States. Since the1990s individuals in the United Stateshave used Rohypnol illegally, often asa means of mitigating the depressionthat results from using stimulantssuch as cocaine and methamphetamine. Rohypnol also has been usedin the commission of sexual assaults.

Rohypnol is manufactured as a

caplet. In 1997 the manufacturerresponded to concerns about thedrug’s role in sexual assaults byreformulating the white, 2-milligramtablets. (The original tablets dissolvedclear in liquid, making it nearlyimpossible for a victim to detect theirpresence in a beverage.) The newsmaller dosage (0.5 mg and 1.0 mg)caplets are dull green with a blue corethat, when dissolved in light-coloreddrinks, will dye the liquid blue.However, the dye may be disguised inblue or dark-colored liquids, andgeneric versions of the drug may notcontain the blue dye.

How is Rohypnol abused?Who abuses Rohypnol?What are the risks?

Individuals who abuse Rohypnol may

swallow the caplets whole, crush andthen snort the powdered caplets, ordissolve the caplets in liquid and theninject the solution. Sexual predatorswho administer Rohypnol to their victims typically slip the drug into a drink,often at a bar or party. The blue colorthat results from mixing Rohypnol witha beverage often is masked by servingblue tropical drinks or by serving thedrink in dark or opaque containers.

The effects of the drug typically are felt

within 15 to 20 minutes of administrationand may persist for more than 12 hours.

Teenagers and young adults, primarily individuals aged 13 to 30, are the

principal users of Rohypnol, and mostusers are male. The drug is popular onhigh school and college campuses andat raves and nightclubs.

Rohypnol use among high school

students is a particular problem. Nearly2 percent of high school seniors in theUnited States used Rohypnol at leastonce in the past year, according to theUniversity of Michigan’s Monitoring theFuture Survey.

Individuals who abuse Rohypnol

often experience drowsiness, headaches, memory impairment, dizziness,nightmares, confusion, and tremors.

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Is Rohypnol illegal in theUnited States?Is Rohypnol illegal in the

United States?

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Is Rohypnol illegal in theUnited States?

Yes, Rohypnol is illegal in the

United States. Rohypnol is aSchedule IV substance under theControlled Substances Act.Schedule IV drugs are consideredto have a lower potential for abusebut still can lead to limited physical or psychological dependence.In addition, in 1997 the U.S.Sentencing Commission increasedthe penalties associated with thepossession, trafficking, and distribution of Rohypnol to those of aSchedule I substance. (Schedule Isubstances include heroin, marijuana, and MDMA.)

Cover photo: DEA.

NDIC Product No. 2003-L0559-020

Nat

012104

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