E-DRUG: Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol (R) ) Abuse Potential (end)
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[discussion closed - thanks to all participants. WB]
Flunitrazepam is potent and has rapid absorption on oral
ingestion. This is an advantage as to onset of action for the
insomniac, and an advantage for the drug addict who wants the
kick (so the slowly absorbed oxazepam is not regarded as very
attractive by the addicts). The drug
has some advantages compared to diazepam and nitrazepam, and it
is considerably cheaper than the newer hypnotics.
Flunitrazepam is quite commonly associated with heroin in drug
overdose fatalities in Norway. It seems that an important
proportion of this is an illegal product smuggled in from abroad.
This makes removal of flunitrazepam from the legal market rather
ineffective. (We have already observed the effect of keeping
heroin as an illegal drug for almost a century). The abuse
argument for removal from the legal market has in my opinion very
little weight here as long as the source may be illegal.
12 years ago when I worked in forensic toxicology, diazepam was
the preferred benzodiazepine of abuse in Norway in cases investigated by
the police (driving under the influence, cases of violent crime, and
abuse of illegal drugs). According to well-informed sources this is
still the case.
If the abused flunitrazepam as a rule is legally acquired, removal of
flunitrazepam will only lead the abusers over to diazepam or to the
newer non-benzodiazepines. It would not surprise me if zolpidem is just
as effective as flunitrazepam as a date rape drug. Zopiclone has already
been established as having abuse potential.
To address the problem, all rapid-onset sedative-hypnotics would have to
be banned.
Removing a low-priced drug that is relatively safe and undoubtedly
effective, will only lead to increased cost for those footing the bill
for legitimate use, and decrease the competition for those selling the
unnecessarily expensive newer drugs which have not yet had their abuse
potential exposed in full.
Gaut Gadeholt
Norway
Email: gaut@online.no
[signature manually added, please supply also affiliation etc in next E-drug
message. Thanks, WB]
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