What Is Flunitrazepam?
Flunitrazepam, also known as Rohypnol, is a member of a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are central nervous system (CNS) depressants that induce sedation and are typically used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders.
Flunitrazepam, a very strong sedative-hypnotic, is not legal in the United States and has never been approved for medical use. Flunitrazepam is said to be somewhere between 7 – 10 times stronger than prescription benzodiazepines, like Valium.
Yet, legal in over sixty countries, Flunitrazepam is generally prescribed to treat insomnia. However, in the United States, Flunitrazepam has earned infamy as the ‘date rape’ drug, historically used to sedate victims of sexual assault.
Flunitrazepam comes in tablet from and can be taken orally. A person suffering from Flunitrazepam addiction may use the drug by crushing it and snorting it, sprinkling it on marijuana and smoking it, or dissolving it in liquid and then injecting it. Someone using Flunitrazepam may feel the effects of the drug within fifteen to twenty minutes, lasting up to six hours.
Flunitrazepam addiction is likely to affect younger populations such as street gang members, rave party attendees, high school students, college students, and others regularly attending parties or clubs. Though these are common groups that use Flunitrazepam, anyone is susceptible to addiction, and may show some warning signs and symptoms.
Signs And Symptoms Of Flunitrazepam Use
As a CNS depressant, Flunitrazepam, or Rohypnol, slows down central nervous system activity and brain function. This will cause the person to feel sleepy, sedated, calm, and relaxed. Using Flunitrazepam regularly is known to result in tolerance, meaning the person will have to take more and more to achieve the same effect.
If a person is struggling from Flunitrazepam addiction, they will likely exhibit the following symptoms of misuse:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Intoxicated feeling similar to alcohol
- Nightmares
- Confusion
- Disinhibition, or uncharacteristic social maneuvering
- Amnesia; blackout
- Slurred speech
- Impaired reaction time and motor coordination
Once a person succumbs to Flunitrazepam addiction, they are likely to show signs of drug seeking behavior. They may compulsively use it, constantly crave it, show impaired judgment, and continually use it despite obvious harm.
They may use street names for Flunitrazepam, like Circles, Forget-Me-Pill, La Rocha, Mexican Valium, Roofies, Pingus, Ruffles, and Wolfies.
Someone abusing Flunitrazepam is also likely to use it with other substances. People using cocaine may take Flunitrazepam to combat typical stimulant effects like agitation and irritability. A person may use Flunitrazepam to increase the effects of other CNS depressants, like alcohol.
If a person begins to combine Flunitrazepam with substances like alcohol and cocaine, then they should seek available treatment options immediately. Combining Flunitrazepam with other drugs can have deadly consequences and is extremely dangerous.
Dangers Of Flunitrazepam Addiction
When a person suffering from Flunitrazepam addiction uses alcohol to enhance the drug’s effects, they increase the likelihood of experiencing stupor, blackout, and respiratory depression. Since both substances are CNS depressants, the brain and nervous system are slowed to an alarming rate, potentially resulting in death.
Mixing with alcohol can also result in anterograde amnesia, or not remembering events while intoxicated. In the 1990s, predators would use Flunitrazepam to put in the drinks of unsuspecting victims. The drug would dissolve and the victim would then become incapacitated and lose sense of what was happening because of the debilitating effects of mixing alcohol and Flunitrazepam.
Mixing the two intentionally can be dangerous because a person may not remember what they are doing, like having sex or driving. Effects like slowed coordination, amnesia, and profound sedation make a dangerous cocktail that increases the risk of accident and injury.
Flunitrazepam addiction can also lead to dangerous results when combined with other substances. Further dangerous combinations with Flunitrazepam include other benzodiazepines and opioids such as heroin, oxycodone, codeine, and morphine. All of these combinations may result in increased CNS depression, which can cause severe sedation, unconsciousness, respiratory failure, or death.
Flunitrazepam addiction is dangerous and needs professional aide to adequately treat. Abruptly discontinuing use of Flunitrazepam, however, can result in painful withdrawal.
Flunitrazepam Addiction Withdrawal And Detox
Flunitrazepam addiction will likely lead to psychological and physical dependence. Dependence means the brain and body have become accustomed to ingesting the drug, and will therefore experience adverse symptoms when drug use is stopped.
Symptoms of Flunitrazepam addiction withdrawal include:
- Extreme anxiety
- Headache
- Tension
- Muscle pain
- Numbness
- Restlessness
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Hallucinations
- Shock
- Delirium
- Seizures
These withdrawal symptoms are likely to cause extreme discomfort and can lead to further drug use. Treatment options are available for those suffering from Flunitrazepam addiction withdrawal, and may include medically supervised detoxification, or detox.
The goal of medically supervised detox is to provide a safe and effective environment to deal with the agony of withdrawal. Professionals are likely to administer other medications in order to ease the discomfort of the withdrawal process. While medications may be useful for detoxification, it is only the first step in a variety of treatment options.
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Flunitrazepam Addiction Treatment Options
Like medically supervised detox, Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) may be used with other therapies in order to successfully treat addiction. However, as of the time of this writing, there are no FDA approved medications to specifically treat Flunitrazepam addiction. Nonetheless, MAT may still be useful to deal with withdrawal and prevent future relapse.
Other treatment options include some form of behavioral therapy. Behavioral treatments are vast and wide-ranging, and can provide various tools and resources for a person to overcome addiction. While research is still needed on treatment options for Flunitrazepam addiction, there are plenty of behavioral treatments that help fight the disease of addiction.
Outpatient treatment allows the individual to continue to live at home and make visits to multiple therapists and professionals. While outpatient treatment can provide a specific approach based on individual needs and preferences, it may be risky for the person to continue to live at home during treatment.
Addiction is likely the cause of a variety of factors, including social environment. Staying at home during treatment could increase the risk of using drugs or alcohol, and void any progress made during therapy.
Inpatient treatment provides a home for the individual at a residential treatment center. This is a good treatment option for many because it offers around the clock care and medications, and takes place in a stable environment. The person will have access to a variety of treatments and therapies that will pave the way for a drug free life once back in the community.
At inpatient treatment centers, those suffering from addiction will possibly be subjected to group therapies, support services, and even employment training.
Call Now For Flunitrazepam Addiction Treatment Options
Addiction is a devastating disease that has taken the country by storm – you are not alone. If you or your loved one are struggling with addiction, do not hesitate to call the number on your screen.
Call now and you will be connected with professionals that can help you find the right treatment option for you or yours. Addiction is hard, calling is easy. Make a simple call and change a life for the better.
