Rohypnol By: Nicole Warnick

Names Roofies Rohypnol Flunitrazepam Roches Ruffles “date -rape drug” La roche Roofenol Mexican Valium “Forget me drug”

Class of Drug Benzodiazepines: sedatives/ hypnotics Used to treat anxiety, insomnia, sleep disorders, seizure disorders and used as muscle relaxants Rohypnol was never approved for sale or use in the US but it is smuggled through borders. Sold on streets or sent through international mail

Paraphernalia Drinking Glasses:dropped into glasses Pen shells: used for snorting Rolled Money:used for snorting Mortar and Pestle: used for crushing Razor Blades:used for crushing and making a line

Administration Orally: can be taken by mouth by either taking a pill of rohypnol or ground up and dissolved in a drink Snorting: can be ground up and snorted by using things such as pen shells or rolled up money Users will typically make a clean line with something such as a razor blade to make less or a mess and consume all of the drug Rohypnol can be ground up by typically using a mortar and pestle

Effects on the Body Sedation Muscle relaxation Reduction in anxiety Slurred speech Impaired judgement Difficulty with balance Partial Amnesia Effects appear 10-20 minutes after administration and last between 4-24 hours With continued use deep dependence and withdrawal syndrome is highly possible

Identification of Drug If exposure to drug is observed at all, urine tests will be done within 72 hours Blood Tests Hair Samples: 14 days after administration: gives body time to process the drug and show protein and other molecules that exist in the hair. Labs will look for up to 9 metabolites that are associated with the drug and they can be identified in each of the methods Identifying the drug in victims is difficult due to the fact that it causes partial amnesia often times victims won't remember what happened, effects will still be in action in their body and this will cause a delay in a report of assault. Many times the drug is out of a person’s system by the time they report an assault

Signs of Regular Rohypnol use Rohypnol can leave behind a powdery residue on wherever it was used Many razor blades, rolled up money, pen shells, etc. found around living quarters, work, car, etc. Abnormal anxiety, aggression, drowsiness, headaches, restlessness,

Other Information Not available legally in the US but it is legal in 60+ countries around the world and is used for treatment of insomnia and used as pre-anesthetic Was placed into Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act in 1984 due to international treaty obligations Schedule IV drugs are considered to have a lower abuse potential but can lead to physical or psychological dependence. 7-10X stronger than valium Cost ranges from $.50-$5 a pill Rohypnol may also be used by cocaine addicts who want to take the edge off their irritability and agitation Rohypnol is odorless, colorless and tasteless

Solutions Companies who manufacture the drug have started making a blue center for the pill to help make identification in a drink easier This will cause clear liquids to turn blue but in dark liquids it doesn’t make much of a difference Don’t accept drinks from anyone you don’t know Always keep your drink with you If you feel “off or weird” after drinking little or nothing go and find help quickly

If you ever do have a concern about someone else or yourself there are resources to help: Individual therapy Family therapy Recreational therapy Relapse-prevention instructions Medication management Rehab center Call: 877-762-4484 or 1-888-290-6378 to find a treatment center