One of the major problems with drug use is not the drugs themselves but the behavior they provoke in users. Drug abuse and addiction are inherently self-destructive processes, but drugs also create the potential for violence towards others.
Recently, a great deal of attention has been focused on a group of drugs sometimes called the "predatory drugs". Also called "club drugs" or "date rape drugs," these drugs are very dissimilar in their chemical compositions and in their effects on the body. They are considered as a group because of a common use -- all of them potential to be involved in crime-related activity, especially sexual assault.
Rohypnol
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Rohypnol in pillform from the manufacturer. |
Rohypnol (called "roofies", "rophies" or "rope" on the street) has received a great deal of attention from the press and public. Rohypnol is the brand name of flunitrazepam, a chemical cousin of the popular sedative Valium. Rohypnol is ten times stronger than Valium, and can produce a deep intoxication and amnesia for up to eight hours. The drug is odorless and tasteless when dissolved in a drink.
Rohypnol is licensed for use in Europe and other countries as a sleep aid, but is illegal in the United States. It may be abused alone, but is often used with other drugs, like alcohol and heroin. Even if used alone, Rohypnol can cause addiction and dependence. Medical help may be required to stop abusing the drug.
The drug is smuggled in from Mexico and other countries in which it is legal, and is then distributed on the street, usually in the manufacturer's original bubble pack. To help stop the use of the drug in assaults, the manufacturer (Hoffmann-LaRoche) has begun adding a blue dye to the pill, to make it easier to detect in drinks.
GHB
GHB, or Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate, is a drug originally developed as an anaesthetic. It was withdrawn from that market and was declared illegal in 1990. The drug is now manufactured illegally in small laboratories, where it can be made from common industrial solvents. GHB is sometimes illegally given to bodybuilders as a growth hormone stimulant.
On the street, GHB is known as "Grevious Bodily Harm", "liquid ecstasy" "goop" or "scoop". It's been abused as an alternative to MDMA (ecstasy) and may be used in addition to alcohol or other drugs.
GHB is available in either liquid or powder form, and is odorless, colorless and nearly tasteless, though it may have a slight salty taste. In low doses, it can produce many of the same euphoric effects as alcohol. In high doses, GHB causes deep intoxication, unconsciousness, seizures, vomiting and respiratory problems. The intoxicating and sedating effects of the drug at high doses make it popular for date rape. Those effects last anywhere from 1-3 hours.
How to Stay Safe
Whether it's with Rohypnol, GHB or tomorrow's date rape drug of choice, the drinking scene presents dangers which go far beyond those of alcohol alone. Not drinking or using drugs is the best defense against trouble, but if you do choose to drink (or party), there are a few things you can do to protect yourself:
- Be familiar with the location in which you'll be drinking and partying. Have a general idea of who will be at the party or in the bar.
- Go to the bar or party with friends and watch out for each other.
If you do choose to drink:
- Keep your drink with you at all times -- don't leave it unattended.
- Mix your own drinks, if possible, or keep an eye on the person who makes your drink.
- Know your own limits, and stick to them. Don't allow yourself to get drunk.
- Stay aware of what you're drinking. If you see cloudiness, a strange color, or sediment in your drink, get rid of it.
- Have the number of the local cab company with you, along with enough change to make the call from a pay phone. If you feel like you've reached your limits, don't hesitate to call for a cab. Whatever you do, DON'T DRIVE after drinking.
- If you begin to feel unexpectedly tired, overwhelmingly intoxicated, or strange, call an ambulance. Many of the signs of alcohol poisoning are the same as those of other drug poisonings. Make sure you and your friends know how to spot this severe medical emergency.
- Contact your doctor if you experience memory lapses after drinking or notice any kind of bruising or injury that wasn't there before.