GHB, Ketamine, and Rohypnol
GHB and Rohypnol are predominantly central nervous system
depressants. Because they are often colorless, tasteless,
and odorless, they can be added to beverages and ingested
unknowingly. These drugs emerged a few years ago as “date
rape” drugs. Because of concern about their abuse, Congress
passed the “Drug-Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment
Act of 1996” in October 1996. This legislation increased
Federal penalties for use of any controlled substance to aid
in sexual assault.
GHB
Since about 1990, GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) has been
abused in the U.S. for its euphoric, sedative, and anabolic
(body building) effects. It is a central nervous system
depressant that was widely available over-the-counter in
health food stores during the 1980s and until 1992. It was
purchased largely by body builders to aid in fat reduction
and muscle building. Street names include “liquid
ecstasy,” “soap,” “easy lay,”
“vita-G,” and “Georgia home boy.”
Coma and seizures can occur following abuse of GHB. Combining
use with other drugs such as alcohol can result in nausea
and breathing difficulties. GHB may also produce withdrawal
effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and sweating.
GHB and two of its precursors, gamma butyrolactone (GBL)
and 1,4 butanediol (BD) have been involved in poisonings,
overdoses, date rapes, and deaths. Ketamine Ketamine is an anesthetic that has been approved for both
human and animal use in medical settings since 1970; about
90 percent of the ketamine legally sold is intended for
veterinary use. It can be injected or snorted. Ketamine
is also known as “special K” or “vitamin
K.” Certain doses of ketamine can cause dream-like states and
hallucinations. In high doses, ketamine can cause delirium,
amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure, depression,
and potentially fatal respiratory problems. Rohypnol Rohypnol, a trade name for flunitrazepam, belongs to a
class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. When mixed with
alcohol, Rohypnol can incapacitate victims and prevent them
from resisting sexual assault. It can produce “anterograde
amnesia,” which means individuals may not remember
events they experienced while under the effects of the drug.
Also, Rohypnol may be lethal when mixed with alcohol and/or
other depressants. Rohypnol is not approved for use in the United States,
and its importation is banned. Illicit use of Rohypnol started
appearing in the United States in the early 1990s, where
it became known as “rophies,” “roofies,”
“roach,” and “rope.” Abuse of two other similar drugs appears to have replaced
Rohypnol abuse in some regions of the country. These are
clonazepam, marketed in the U.S. as Klonopin and in Mexico
as Rivotril, and alprazolam, marketed as Xanax. Rohypnol,
however, continues to be a problem among treatment admissions
in Texas along the Mexican border.
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