ROOFIES

NICKNAMES:

Roofies, Ruffies, Rophies, roach, rope, R-2, rib, La Rochas, Forget Pill, Poor Man's Quaalude, Roach-2, Circles, Dulcitas, Whiteys, Trip-and-fall, Mind-erasers, Mexican Valium, Lunch Money, Pappas or Potatoes, negatives or Minuses (refers to the markings on the 1 mg. Tablets), Pluses or Roches Dos (refers to the markings on the 2 mg. Tablets)

REAL NAME:

The drug being referred to is Rohypnol, the trade name for flunitrazepam. Less often "roofies" are clonazepam, marketed in the U.S. as Klonopin and in Mexico as Rivotril.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE:

Looks like an aspirin tablet. The drug is often distributed on the street in "bubble packaging"-foil backed clear plastic "blister packs", which make it appear to be legal.

WHAT IT COSTS: About $5.00 a tablet.

EFFECTS:

The drug is often combined with alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine to produce a rapid and very dramatic "high". Even when used by itself, users can appear extremely intoxicated, with slurred speech, no
coordination, swaying, and blood-shot eyes ...with no odor of alcohol. The drug can also have a calming effect including muscle relaxation and amnesia.

And, you can get hooked on it. The drug can produce physical and pychological dependence. In Miami, one of the first sites of Rohypnol abuse, poison control centers have reported an increase in withdrawal seizures among people addicted to Rohypnol.

But the dangers don't stop there. Besides the worries of unprotected sex, Rohypnol, particularly when mixed with alcohol or other drugs-especially depressants-- may lead to respiratory depression, aspiration, and even death.

Clonazepam is a very similar drug. It's sometimes abused to enhance the effects of heroin and other opiates. Based on emergency room admission information, Boston, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Seattle appear to have the highest use rates of clonazepam.

WHEN IT HIT THE SCENE:

Rohypnol abuse began in Europe in the 1970s and started appearing in the United States in the early 1990s.

GHB

NICKNAMES:

"G" (most common), Gamma-OH, Liquid E, Fantasy, Georgia Home Boy, Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid X, Liquid Ecstasy (it is not ecstasy),
Scoop, Water, Everclear, Great Hormones at Bedtime, GBH, Soap, Easy Lay, Salty Water, G-Riffick, Cherry Meth, and Organic Quaalude, Jib.

REAL NAME:

Gamma- hydroxybutyrate

INGREDIENTS:

This is really gross stuff. It's usually made in "street labs" from solvents like floor stripper, drain cleaner and caustic soda. The purity and concentration varies between batches. It's especially dangerous because there's a narrow margin between a "safe" dose and one that could kill you.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE:

Looks just like water. It can be mistaken for water because it is usually found in a small (30ml) clear plastic bottle, a water bottle, an eyedrop bottle, even Gatorade bottles, which contain several doses. One quick taste, and you'll know it's not water. One "dose" is about a teaspoon but this depends on the concentration. More and more often these days it's available as a white powder.

WHAT IT COSTS:

From $5.00 to $20.00 a capful.

EFFECTS:

It causes a feeling of well-being which can result in making a person more talkative or aggressive but it can also make you feel sleepy. In addition it has anabolic (body building) effects. In 1990 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to consumers to stop using GHB because of its numerous bad side effects.

GHB can also cause memory loss. When combined with alcohol or other drugs-especially methamphetamine or "speed"-- the consequences can be life-threatening. And
without appropriate medical care, the results may be fatal. GHB has been linked to at least 58 deaths since 1990 and more than 5,700 recorded overdoses.
These numbers are likely understated because coroners and physicians are still learning about GHB. GHB may also produce withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and sweating.

WHEN IT HIT THE SCENE:

Since about 1990.