FLUNITRAZEPAM AND ITS INVOLVEMENT IN DATE OR ACQUAINTANCE RAPE

An estimated 1 in 4 women in the United States will be raped in their lifetimes. Approximately 75% of all rapes are date or acquaintance rap es. Recently the illegal use of flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), a benzodiaze pine, as a prelude to the assault has been reported. Flunitrazepam rea dily dissolves, and once in solution, is colorless, odorless, and tast eless. The predominant clinical manifestations are drowsiness, impaire d motor skills, and anterograde amnesia. Due to the amnestic effects o f flunitrazepam, historical clues of the rape event are difficult to o btain. Patients with a complaint of sexual assault who appear intoxica ted or have anterograde amnesia should be suspected of unknowingly ing esting flunitrazepam. In addition to adhering to standard rape protoco ls, a urine specimen should be analyzed for flunitrazepam metabolites using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. If the hospital, local, or forensic laboratory is unable to analyze for flunitrazepam, Hoffmann- La Roche Inc., the manufacturer of Rohypnol, should be contacted. Hoff mann-La Roche has a mechanism for definitive testing for flunitrazepam , at no cost, for health care providers, rape treatment centers, and l aw enforcement agencies. A network of organizations is attempting to r educe the abuse of flunitrazepam in association with date rape.