Not sure what Rohypnol is? You may know it as roofies, the date rape drug.
So, what else do you need to know? It turns out there is plenty you need to know.
What is Rohypnol
Ten times more potent than valium, Rohypnol is a tranquilizer that is illegal in the US. It is not manufactured here but gets smuggled in.
It can be taken orally as a pill or smashed into a powder and placed in a drink. The other way is snorting it. Most often, it used as a pill or powder to put in someone’s drink. The effects begin 20 minutes to an hour later, and the women will feel out of it, unable to move well, and in some cases passes out. When she does wake up, she will have holes in her memory.
The memory issue is what makes it popular as a date rape drug. The woman can’t remember the night before, who she was with, or what she did. That makes it difficult to press charges since she has no idea who she was with and cannot remember the person’s face.
What are the symptoms and side effects
The symptoms of Rohypnol can last up to 12 hours. These symptoms include:
- Tiredness
- Faintness
- lack of dexterity
- Slower reaction time
- Absence judgment
- Little or no synchronization
- Garbled speech
- Bewilderment
- Combative
- Memory loss
- Upset stomach
- Breathing distress in higher doses
- Feeling paralyzed
Continued use of Rohypnol can cause addiction, and when using stops, withdrawals begin. Withdrawal symptoms include the following:
- Headaches
- Muscle discomfort
- Tightness
- Detachment
- Burning or stinging of body parts such as legs and arms
- Hallucination and Loss of Identity
- Trauma
- Cardiac distress
- Seizures
Recovery and safety
Let’s look at safety first, and then we will discuss recovery.
Ladies, if you go out to clubs, here are some tips that can help keep you safe.
• Never leave your drink sitting when you get up to dance or go to the powder room
• Know the symptoms and if you begin to feel different than you usually do call a cab and go to urgent care or the hospital and tell them you suspect drugging with a possible date rape drug
• When you go out clubbing, always have one person designated to be sober to keep an eye on drinks and drive the others home.
• If you have several people you trust at one table, take turns waiting with the drinks while the others use the powder room or dance.
• Never take a drink from someone other than the bartender or cocktail waitress that you can see it opened or mixed.
Follow these tips, and you should be able to stay safer while out on the town.
At 449 Recovery, we offer a monitored detox program to help you begin recovery. Call us today (855) 435-7449 to learn about the therapies, the support staff, and how affordable it is. 449 Recovery provides you a safe environment for recovery.