May 2006 Page 1 of 2

Rohypnol and GHB are predominantly

central nervous system depressants.

Because they are often colorless, tasteless, and odorless, they can be added to

beverages and ingested unknowingly.

These substances emerged a few years

ago as “drug-assisted assault” drugs.*

Because of concern about their abuse,

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.

Rohypnol ———

Rohypnol, a trade name for flunitrazepam, belongs to a class of drugs

known as benzodiazepines. Rohypnol

can incapacitate victims and prevent

them from resisting sexual assault. It can

produce “anterograde amnesia,” which

means individuals may not remember

events they experienced while under 

the effects of the drug. Also, Rohypnol

may be lethal when mixed with alcohol

and/or other depressants.

Rohypnol is not approved for use in 

the United States, and its importation is

banned. Illicit abuse of Rohypnol started

appearing in the United States in the

early 1990s, where it became known as

“rophies,” “roofies,” “roach,” and “rope.” 

Abuse of two other similar drugs

appears to have replaced Rohypnol

abuse in some regions of the country.

These are clonazepam, marketed in 

the U.S. as Klonopin and in Mexico 

as Rivotril, and alprazolam, marketed 

as Xanax.

GHB ———

Since about 1990, GHB (gamma

hydroxybutyrate) has been abused in 

the U.S. for its euphoric, sedative, and

anabolic (body building) effects. It is a

central nervous system depressant that

was widely available over-the-counter in

health food stores during the 1980s and

until 1992. It was purchased largely by

body builders to aid in fat reduction and

muscle building. Street names include

“liquid ecstasy,” “soap,” “easy lay,”

“vita-G,” and “Georgia home boy.” 

Coma and seizures can occur following

abuse of GHB. Combining abuse of

GHB with other drugs such as alcohol

can result in nausea and breathing 

difficulties. GHB may also produce 

withdrawal effects, including insomnia,

anxiety, tremors, and sweating. GHB

and two of its precursors, gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4 butanediol

(BD), have been involved in poisonings,

overdoses, date rapes, and deaths. 

Rohypnol and GHB
May 2006 Page 2 of 2

Extent of Use ———

According to the 2005 Monitoring the

Future** (MTF) survey, NIDA's annual

survey of drug use among the Nation's

high school students, 0.7 percent of 8thgraders, 0.5 percent of 10th-graders,

and 1.2 percent of 12th-graders reported

annual*** use of Rohypnol.

Annual use of GHB among 8th-graders

and 10th-graders remained relatively

stable from 2004 to 2005, but 12thgraders reported a significant decrease

according to MTF findings. In 2005, 0.5

percent of 8th-graders, 0.8 percent of

10th-graders, and 1.1 percent of 12thgraders reported annual use. 

Hospital emergency department (ED)

episodes involving GHB were estimated

at 990 for the third and fourth quarters

of 2003. Males made up the majority 

of patients involved in these mentions

(52 percent), as did Whites (86 percent). The two age categories with the

highest number of mentions were the

18–20 age group and the 35–44 age

group, each estimated at 28 percent of

total mentions. Among ED mentions

involving club drugs, however, only

MDMA (ecstasy) is cited more frequently

than GHB.**** 

Other Information

Sources ———

For additional information on Rohypnol

and GHB, please also see the NIDA

InfoFacts on Club Drugs and visit

www.clubdrugs.org.

* Also known as “date rape,” “drug rape,” or “acquaintance rape.”

** These data are from the 2005 Monitoring the Future survey, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse,

National Institutes of Health, DHHS, and conducted annually by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social

Research. The survey has tracked 12th-graders’ illicit drug use and related attitudes since 1975; in 1991, 8th- and

10th-graders were added to the study. The latest data are online at www.drugabuse.gov.

*** “Lifetime” refers to use at least once during a respondent’s lifetime. “Annual” refers to use at least once during

the year preceding an individual’s response to the survey. “30-day” refers to use at least once during the 30 days preceding an individual’s response to the survey.

**** These 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 data are available

at 800-729-6686 or online at www.samhsa.gov.

National Institutes of Health – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This material may be used or reproduced without permission from NIDA. Citation of the source is appreciated.