Date Rape Drugs

GHB

What is GHB?

GHB is a central nervous system depressant which causes drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, loss of inhibition, memory loss and visual disturbances. GHB is abused to produce euphoric, intoxication, and hallucinogenic states, and for it's alleged role as a growth hormone releasing agent to stimulate muscles. Some users also report that it is an aphrodisiac. GHB has been used to assist in the commission of sexual assaults because it renders the victim incapable of resisting and often causes memory problems. Therefore, GHB is commonly referred as a "Date-Rape Drug."

GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid)

Street Names: Liquid Ecstasy, Scoop, Easy Lay, Georgia Home Boy, Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid X, and Goop¹

What are the different forms of GHB?

• An odorless, colorless liquid form
• White powder material²

How is GHB used?

• Usually ingested in a liquid mixture; most commonly mixed with alcohol

Who uses GHB?

• GHB has become popular among teens and young adults at dance clubs and "raves."
• Body builders sometimes use GHB for its alleged anabolic effects.

How does GHB get to the United States?

• Because the drug is easy to synthesize and manufacture, local operators usually handle distribution.³

How much does GHB cost?

• GHB is usually sold by the capful, and sells for $5 to $25 per cap.⁴

What are some consequences of GHB use?

• In lower doses, GHB causes drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and visual disturbances.
• At higher dosages, unconsciousness, seizures, severe respiratory depression, and coma can occur.
• Overdoses usually require emergency room treatment, including intensive care for respiratory depression and coma. As of November 2000, DEA documented 71 GHB-related deaths.
• GHB has been used in the commission of sexual assaults because it renders the victim incapable of resisting, and may cause memory problems that could complicate case prosecution.⁵

¹Drug Enforcement Administration, Club Drugs: An Update, September 2001.
²Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Facts: Club Drugs, May 2002.
³Drug Enforcement Administration, Club Drugs: An Update, September 2001.
⁴Ibid.
⁵Ibid.

What Are GBL and 1,4 Butanediol (1,4BD)?

These substances are GHB analogues, meaning that they are chemically similar to GHB. In fact, the human body converts them into GHB after they are ingested-therefore than can be considered as essentially the same drug with the same side effects as GHB.

GHB, GBL and 1,4BD as Date Rape Drugs

GHB, GBL, and BD 1,4 have gained notoriety as drugs used to facilitate sexual assault, adding an urgency to law enforcement efforts to pursue traffickers of these drugs.

HB, GBL, and BD 1,4 have gained notoriety as drugs used to facilitate sexual assault, adding an urgency to law enforcement efforts to pursue traffickers of these drugs.
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The dangers of GHB, GBL, and BD 1,4 as "Date Rape Drugs"

• These drugs render the victim incapable of resisting sexual advances.
  
  
• Sexual Assaults facilitated by these drugs can be difficult to prosecute or even recognize because:
  
  
• Victims may not be aware that they ingested a drug at all. GHB and its analogues are invisible when dissolved in water, and are odorless. They are somewhat salty tasting, but are indiscernible when dissolved in beverages such as sodas, liquor, or beer.
  
  
• Due to memory problems induced by these drugs, the victim may not be aware of the attack until 8-12 hours after it occurred.
  
  
• The drugs are metabolized quickly, so there may be little physical evidence to support the claim that the drugs were used to facilitate an assault.
  
  
• Memory impairment caused by the drugs also eliminates evidence about the attack.

Awareness of GHB's use to facilitate sexual assault is largely due to the efforts of the family of Samantha Reid. Reid, a fifteen-year old Michigan girl, died after ingesting GHB that was slipped into her soda by a classmate. The law that declared GHB a Schedule I drug is named in Reid's honor.

Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam)

Street terms for Rohypnol: R-2, Mexican Valium, rophies, roofies, circles¹

Rohypnol, most   commonly known as a date-rape drug, continues to be abused among teenagers and young adults, usually at raves and nightclubs. The drug remains readily available, mainly through pharmaceutical operators located in Mexico, especially Tijuana. Seizures, which appear to be declining, occur primarily in the Southwest Border states.

What is the form of Rohypnol?

• Rohypnol is manufactured in pill form. The licit market for the drug is currently supplied with a 1-milligram dose in an olive green, oblong tablet, imprinted with the number 542. The new tablet includes a dye that, according to Hoffman-La Roche (the makers of Rohypnol) will be visible if it is slipped into a drink.

How does Rohypnol get into the United States?

• Rohypnol is usually smuggled into the United States by way of mail or delivery services.
• The drug remains readily available, mainly through pharmaceutical operators located in Mexico, especially Tijuana.⁴

What are some of the consequences of Rohypnol use?

• One of the significant effects of the drug is anterograde amnesia, a factor that strongly contributed to its inclusion in the Drug-Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act of 1996. Anterograde amnesia is a condition in which events that occurred while under the influence of the drug are forgotten.⁶
• In addition to the chemically induced amnesia, Rohypnol often causes decreased blood pressure, drowsiness, visual disturbances, dizziness, confusion, astrointestinal disturbances, and urinary retention.⁷
• Development of physical and psychological dependence.⁸

¹Office of National Drug Control Policy, Street Terms: Drugs and the Drug Trade.


²Ibid.
³Ibid.
⁴Ibid.
⁵Ibid.
⁶Ibid.

Information provided by the Drug Enforcement Agency