Rohypnol

Street terms for Rohypnol: R-2, Mexican Valium, rophies, roofies, circles

What different forms does Rohypnol come in? Rohypnol is manufactured in pill form. The licit market for the drug is currently supplied with a 1-milligram dose in an olive green, oblong tablet, imprinted with the number 542. The new tablet includes a dye that, according to Hoffman-La Roche (the makers of Rohypnol) will be visible if it is slipped into a drink. Drug-facilitated sexual assault involves the administration of an anesthesia-type drug to render a victim physically incapacitated or helpless and thus incapable of giving or withholding consent. Victims may be unconscious during all or parts of the sexual assault and, upon regaining consciousness, may experience anterograde amnesia--the inability to recall events that occurred while under the influence of the drug.

There are no conclusive estimates as to the number of drug-facilitated sexual assaults that occur each year; however, nationwide law enforcement reporting indicates that the number of such assaults appears to be increasing. Many drug-facilitated sexual assaults are not reported. Victims often are reluctant to report incidents because of a sense of embarrassment, guilt, or perceived responsibility, or because they lack specific recall of the assault. Moreover, most of the drugs typically used in the commission of sexual assaults are rapidly absorbed and metabolized by the body, thereby rendering them undetectable in routine urine and blood drug screenings.

How is this drug used? Rohypnol is usually taken orally in pill form, but can also be crushed and snorted. Who uses Rohypnol? In Latin America and Europe, the medicine is prescribed to patients as a short-term treatment for insomnia, and as a preanesthetic medication. Rohypnol continues to be abused among teenagers and young adults, usually at raves and nightclubs.

How does Rohypnol get into the United States? Rohypnol is usually smuggled into the United States by way of mail or delivery services. The drug remains readily available, mainly through pharmaceutical operators located in Mexico, especially Tijuana.

Rohypnol is manufactured worldwide, particularly in Europe and Latin America, where it is sold legally by prescription. This drug is neither manufactured nor approved for medical use in the United States. Distributors in Texas allegedly travel to Mexico to obtain the drug. In addition, Colombian sources of supply smuggle Rohypnol into South Florida via international mail services and/or couriers using commercial airlines.

According to law enforcement officials in south Florida, Rohypnol is routinely referred to as a "club drug," since it is popular in local nightclubs. It is also referred to as the "date rape drug," characteristically causing the victim to experience short-term memory loss after ingestion. It is ingested orally, frequently in conjunction with alcohol or other drugs. High school and college students are the most frequent users of Rohypnol, commonly using it as an "alcohol extender." Young people also have the misconception that Rohypnol is unadulterated, and, therefore, "safe" because of pre-sealed bubble packaging.

How much does Rohypnol cost? Reports indicate that Rohypnol is often sold for between $2 and $5 per dosage unit, although it may sell for from $10 to $30 per dosage unit.

What are some of the consequences of Rohypnol use? One of the significant effects of the drug is anterograde amnesia, a factor that strongly contributed to its inclusion in the Drug-Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act of 1996. Anterograde amnesia is a condition in which events that occurred while under the influence of the drug are forgotten. In addition to the chemically induced amnesia, Rohypnol often causes decreased blood pressure, drowsiness, visual disturbances, dizziness, confusion, astrointestinal disturbances, and urinary retention. Users can also develop physical and psychological dependence.