Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

The Drugs

Brand name: Rohypnol®; Trade name: Flunitrazepam
Street names: "Roofies", "roachies", "forget pill", "rope", "La Roche", "rophies", "ruffies", "R-2", "Roach 2", "Rib", "papas", "peanuts", "pastas"
Prescription benzodiazepine (for treatment of insomnia), 10 times more potent than diazepam (Valium®)
Easily dissolvable, odorless, tasteless, now colours clear beverage blue or dark beverage murky
Smuggled via mail or delivery service (Columbia and Mexico)
In Canada, Rohypnol is Schedule IV under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act: it is not illegal to possess, but it is illegal to traffic, import and produce.
Though it is difficult to say for certain, drug seizures and victim testing indicate that Rohypnol® is rare in Canada. However, the drug is becoming increasingly present in the United States, and its use may also increase in Canada.

Appear "drunk" (slurred speech, weakness, staggering, reduced inhibition)
Sedation
Anxiolytic, muscle relaxation (can't fend off attacker)
Anterograde amnesia (prevents the victim from remembering events for several hours following initial ingestion)
Anticonvulsant
Potentiates effects of other drugs especially alcohol, marijuana or heroin. (Anglin, 1997)
Action within 20 minutes and last up to 8 hours

Recreational: Adolescents, school, clubs, gangs
Episodic: voluntary & involuntary
Misuse / facilitate sexual assault
Addictive / habitual
Fast growing drug problem in USA
Combination with other drugs (marijuana, alcohol)
Oral, crushed: smoked, snorted, injected
It can also be taken to decrease the after-effects of other drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy or amphetamines.

Last Modified: September 5, 2006