Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Drugs The following information on health risks is from the Drug Enforcement Agency. There are three specific drugs that are commonly utilized in drug facilitated sexual assault: Rohypnol®, GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid), or Ketamine. Rohypnol®: Rohypnol®, also known as flunitrazepam, is not approved in the United States, although it is available for use as a prescription sleep aid in other countries. It is most commonly found as a tablet which is consumed by dissolving it in a drink or swallowing it. The possible short term health effects include drowsiness, sedation, sleep, amnesia, blackout; decreased anxiety; muscle relaxation, impaired reaction time and motor coordination; impaired mental functioning and judgment; confusion; aggression; excitability; slurred speech; headache; slowed breathing and heart rate. When combined with alcohol the possible health effects include severe sedation, unconsciousness, and slowed heart rate and breathing, which can lead to death. At this point the long-term health effects of Rohypnol® are still unknown. Rohypnol® can take between 36-72 hours to leave the body. GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid): GHB is a depressant approved for use in treatment of narcolepsy, and commonly goes by the other names of Goop, liquid ecstasy, and liquid X. It is most commonly a colorless liquid or white powder which is consumed through swallowing, often in combination with alcohol. The possible short term health effects include euphoria, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, memory loss, unconsciousness, slowed heart rate and breath, lower body temperature, seizures, coma, and death. In combination with alcohol the possible health effects include nausea, problems with breathing, and greatly increased depressant effects. Currently, the long-term effects of GHB are unknown. GHB, unlike Rohypnol, leaves the body between 10-12 hours after consumption. Ketamine: Ketamine is a dissociative drug used as a surgical anesthetic, an anesthetic in veterinary practice, and as a prescription for treatment resistant depression under strict medical supervision. It is most commonly a liquid or white powder and is consumed through swallowing, smoking, snorting, or injections. The possible short term health effects include problems with attention, learning, and memory; dreamlike states, hallucinations; sedation; confusion; loss of memory; raised blood pressure, unconsciousness; and dangerously slow breathing. If ketamine is consumed with alcohol there is a risk of adverse effects. The possible health effects associated with long term use include ulcers and pain in the bladder; kidney problems; stomach pain; depression; and poor memory. If an individual believes they or a friend have consumed Rohypnol®, GHB, or Ketamine they should visit a local healthcare facility that can care for survivors of sexual assault and provide a forensic exam. While receiving care the individual who has ingested the drug can request the hospital to take a urine sample for drug toxicology testing, if the individual cannot immediately go to a hospital, they should save their urine in a clean, sealable container as soon as possible, and place it in the refrigerator or freezer for future toxicology testing. 14 — 2025 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
