Club Drugs: A Look at GHB, Rohypnol and Ketamine
“Club drugs” are a group of psychoactive compounds that tend to be abused by teens and young adults at a nightclub, bar, rave, or trance scene.
Gamma hydroxybutyrate, also known as GHB, Rohypnol, and ketamine are some of the drugs in this group:
- GHB (Xyrem) is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002 for use in the treatment of narcolepsy (a sleep disorder). This approval came with severe restrictions, including its use only for the treatment of narcolepsy, and the requirement for a patient registry monitored by the FDA. GHB is also a metabolite of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA); thus, it is found naturally in the brain, but at concentrations much lower than doses that are abused.
- Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) started appearing in the United States in the early 1990s. It is a benzodiazepine (chemically similar to Valium or Xanax), but it is not approved for medical use in this country, and its importation is banned.
- Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, mostly used in veterinary practice.
Raves and trance events are generally night-long dances, often held in warehouses. Many who attend raves and trances do not use club drugs, but those who do may be attracted to their generally low cost and the intoxicating highs that are said to deepen the rave or trance experience.
- Rohypnol is usually taken orally, although there are reports that it can be ground up and snorted.
- GHB and Rohypnol have both been used to facilitate date rape (also known as “drug rape,” “acquaintance rape,” or “drug-assisted” assault). They can be colorless, tasteless, and odorless, and can be added to beverages and ingested unbeknownst to the victim. When mixed with alcohol, Rohypnol can incapacitate victims and prevent them from resisting sexual assault.
- GHB also has anabolic effects (it stimulates protein synthesis) and has been sought by bodybuilders to aid in fat reduction and muscle building.
- Ketamine is usually snorted or injected intramuscularly.
I am a fiction writer and am looking for information on rohypnol. In my story, my protagonist is given an alcoholic drink with rohypnol in it. My question is how long the rohypnol would take to affect her and how long it would take to get it out of her system. She has had one previous alcoholic beverage and no food.