What It Is: Rohypnol is sold in some countries as a sleeping pill, but is illegal in the United States. Because it can cause extreme drowsiness (or "blackouts"), it is often used in date rapes. Sometimes Called: roofies, roach, forget-me pill, date rape drug, R-2, rope, circles, wolfies How It's Used: This drug is swallowed, sometimes with alcohol or other drugs. Sometimes it's crushed and snorted, dissolved and injected, or sprinkled on marijuana and smoked. What It Does: Rohypnol has received a lot of attention because of its association with date rape. Many teen girls and women report having been raped after having rohypnol slipped into their drinks. The drug also causes "anterograde amnesia." This means it's hard to remember what happened while on the drug. Because of this, it can be hard to give important details if a young woman wants to report the rape. Rohypnol can cause a drop in blood pressure, as well as cause memory loss, drowsiness, dizziness, and an upset stomach. Though it's part of the depressant family of drugs, it causes some people to be overly excited or aggressive. Users can become physically addicted to rohypnol, so it can cause extreme withdrawal symptoms when users stop. Back to Articles Related Articles Date Rape About half of people who have been raped know the person who attacked them. This article explains what date rape is, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you've been raped. Read More Drugs: What to Know It's not hard to find drugs, and sometimes it may seem like everyone's doing them or wanting you to do them. But there are downsides (and dangers) to taking drugs. Read More Rape Rape is forced, unwanted sexual intercourse. Rape is about power, not sex. Both men and women of any age can be raped. Find out what you can do and how to take care of yourself after a rape. Read More Date Rape Half of all people who are raped know their attacker. Increase your child's awareness of date rape and teach him or her how to stay safe. Read More Drugs: What Parents Need to Know Knowing what drugs are out there, what they can do, and how they can affect someone is the first step in raising drug-free kids. Read More Talking to Your Child About Drugs Just as you inoculate your kids against illnesses like measles, you can help "immunize" them against drug use by giving them the facts now. Read More Amphetamines: What Parents Need to Know Amphetamines (including prescription diet pills) are highly addictive stimulants that accelerate functions in the brain and body. Read More Depressants: What Parents Need to Know Depressants calm and relax nerves. But if used in the wrong way, they can be dangerous and even cause life-threatening problems. Read More Heroin: What Parents Need to Know Heroin is a highly addictive, illegal narcotic that can cause death when taken in excess. Read More Inhalants: What Parents Need to Know Inhalants like glue are sniffed or huffed to give the user a high. Just doing it one time can be fatal. Read More Ketamine: What Parents Need to Know Ketamine hydrochloride is a quick-acting anesthetic that can cause intoxication, hallucinations, and even death when taken in dangerously high doses. Read More LSD: What Parents Need to Know LSD is a dangerous hallucinogenic drug that affects mood, judgment, and behavior. Read More Marijuana: What Parents Need to Know Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. Read More Ecstasy: What Parents Need to Know Ecstasy is a dangerous illegal drug that can cause hallucinations and even death. Read More GHB: What Parents Need to Know GHB, gamma hydroxybutyrate, is a popular club and date rape drug that can be deadly. Read More Methamphetamines: What Parents Need to Know Methamphetamines are dangerous stimulants that speed up a person's heart rate and bodily functions. When used in large doses, meth can kill. Read More How Can I Help a Friend Who Was Raped? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.