What It Is:
Rohypnol is sold in some countries as a sleeping pill, but is illegal in the United
States. Because it can cause extreme drowsiness (or "blackouts"), it is often used
in date rapes.
Sometimes Called:
roofies, roach, forget-me pill, date rape drug, R-2, rope, circles, wolfies
How It's Used:
This drug is swallowed, sometimes with alcohol or other drugs. Sometimes it's crushed
and snorted, dissolved and injected, or sprinkled on marijuana
and smoked.
What It Does:
Rohypnol has received a lot of attention because of its association with date
rape. Many teen girls and women report having been raped after having rohypnol
slipped into their drinks. The drug also causes "anterograde amnesia." This means
it's hard to remember what happened while on the drug. Because of this, it can be
hard to give important details if a young woman wants to report the rape.
Rohypnol can cause a drop in blood pressure, as well as cause memory loss, drowsiness,
dizziness, and an upset stomach. Though it's part of the depressant family of drugs,
it causes some people to be overly excited or aggressive.
Users can become physically addicted to rohypnol, so it can cause extreme withdrawal
symptoms when users stop.
