Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. There are over 200 slang terms for marijuana including “pot,” “herb,” “weed,” “boom,” “Mary Jane,” “gangster,” and “chronic.” It is usually smoked as a cigarette (called a joint or a nail) or in a pipe or bong. In recent years, it has appeared in blunts. These are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and re-filled with marijuana, often in combination with another drug, such as crack. Some users also mix marijuana into foods or use it to brew tea.

The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). In 1988, it was discovered that the membranes of certain nerve cells contain protein receptors that bind THC. Once securely in place, THC kicks off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the high that users experience when they smoke marijuana. The short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning; distorted perception; difficulty in thinking and problem solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Scientists have found that whether an individual has positive or negative sensations after smoking marijuana can be influenced by heredity. A recent study demonstrated that identical male twins were more likely than nonidentical male twins to report similar responses to marijuana use, indicating a genetic basis for their sensations. Identical twins share all of their genes, and fraternal twins share about half. Environmental factors such as the availability of marijuana, expectations about how the drug would affect them, the influence of friends and social contacts, and other factors that would be different even for identical twins also were found to have an important effect; however, it also was discovered that the twins’ shared or family environment before age 18 had no detectable influence on their response to marijuana.

How is marijuana used?

Cannabis products are usually smoked. Their effects are felt within minutes, reach their peak in 10 to 30 minutes, and may linger for two or three hours. The effects experienced often depend upon the experience and expectations of the individual user as well as the activity of the drug itself. Low doses tend to induce a sense of well-being and a dreamy state of relaxation, which may be accompanied by a more vivid sense of sight, smell, taste, and hearing as well as by subtle alterations in thought formation and expression. This state of intoxication may not be noticeable to an observer. However, driving, occupational or household accidents may result from a distortion of time and space relationships and impaired coordination. Stronger doses intensify reactions. The individual may experience shifting sensory imagery, rapidly fluctuating emotions, a flight of fragmentary thoughts with disturbed associations, an altered sense of self-identity, impaired memory, and a dulling of attention despite an illusion of heightened insight. High doses may result in image distortion, a loss of personal identity, and fantasies and hallucinations.

Health hazards

Marijuana contains known toxins and cancer-causing chemicals which are stored in fat cells for as long as several months. Marijuana users experience the same health problems as tobacco smokers, such as bronchitis, emphysema and bronchial asthma. Some of the effects of marijuana use also include: an increased heart rate, dryness of the mouth, reddening if the eyes, impaired motor skills and concentration, and frequent hunger and an increased desire for sweets. Extended use increases risk to the lungs and reproductive system, as well as suppression of the immune system. Occasionally hallucinations, fantasies and paranoia are reported.

Effects of Marijuana on the Brain

Researchers have found that THC changes the way in which sensory information gets into and is acted on by the hippocampus. This is a component of the brain’s limbic system that is crucial for learning, memory, and the integration of sensory experiences with emotions and motivations. Investigations have shown that neurons in the information processing system of the hippocampus and the activity of the nerve fibers are suppressed by THC. In addition, researchers have discovered that learned behaviors, which depend on the hippocampus, also deteriorate.

Recent research findings also indicate that long-term use of marijuana produces changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term use of other major drugs of abuse.

Effects on the Lungs

Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have. These individuals may have daily cough and phlegm, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and more frequent chest colds. Continuing to smoke marijuana can lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue injured or destroyed by marijuana smoke.

Regardless of the THC content, the amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers. This may be due to the marijuana users inhaling more deeply and holding the smoke in the lungs.

Effects on Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

Recent findings indicate that smoking marijuana while shooting up cocaine has the potential to cause severe increases in heart rate and blood pressure. In one study, experienced marijuana and cocaine users were given marijuana alone, cocaine alone, and then a combination of both. Each drug alone produced cardiovascular effects; when they were combined, the effects were greater and lasted longer. The heart rate of the subjects in the study increased 29 beats per minute with marijuana alone and 32 beats per minute with cocaine alone. When the drugs were given together, the heart rate increased by 49 beats per minute, and the increased rate persisted for a longer time. The drugs were given with the subjects sitting quietly. In normal circumstances, an individual may smoke marijuana and inject cocaine and then do something physically stressful that may significantly increase risks of overload on the cardiovascular system.

Effects of Heavy Marijuana Use on Learning and Social Behavior

A study of college students has shown that critical skills related to attention, memory, and learning are impaired among people who use marijuana heavily, even after discontinuing its use for at least 24 hours. Researchers compared 65 “heavy users,” who had smoked marijuana a median of 29 of the past 30 days, and 64 “light users,” who had smoked a median of 1 of the past 30 days. After a closely monitored 19- to 24-hour period of abstinence from marijuana and other illicit drugs and alcohol, the undergraduates were given several standard tests measuring aspects of attention, memory, and learning. Compared to the light users, heavy marijuana users made more errors and had more difficulty sustaining attention, shifting attention to meet the demands of changes in the environment, and in registering, processing, and using information. The findings suggest that the greater impairment among heavy users is likely due to an alteration of brain activity produced by marijuana.

Longitudinal research on marijuana use among young people below college age indicates those who used have lower achievement than the non-users, more acceptance of deviant behavior, more delinquent behavior and aggression, greater rebelliousness, poorer relationships with parents, and more associations with delinquent and drug-using friends.

Research also shows more anger and more regressive behavior (thumb sucking, temper tantrums) in toddlers whose parents use marijuana than among the toddlers of non-using parents.

Effects on Pregnancy

Any drug of abuse can affect a mother’s health during pregnancy, and this is a time when she should take special care of herself. Drugs of abuse may interfere with proper nutrition and rest, which can affect good functioning of the immune system. Some studies have found that babies born to mothers who used marijuana during pregnancy were smaller than those born to mothers who did not use the drug. In general, smaller babies are more likely to develop health problems.

A nursing mother who uses marijuana passes some of the THC to the baby in her breast milk. Research indicates that the use of marijuana by a mother during the first month of breast-feeding can impair the infant’s motor development (control of muscle movement).

Addictive Potential

A drug is addicting if it causes compulsive, often uncontrollable drug craving, seeking, and use, even in the face of negative health and social consequences. Marijuana meets this criterion. More than 120,000 people seek treatment per year for their primary marijuana addiction. In addition, animal studies suggest marijuana causes physical dependence, and some people report withdrawal symptoms.

Extent of Use

National Survey on Drug Use and Health
Based on SAMHSA’s 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 3.1 million persons aged 12 or older used marijuana daily, that is, on 300 or more days in the past year. Between 2002 and 2003, the number of 12 to 17 year olds reporting daily use of marijuana decreased from 358,000 to 282,000; while there were no changes in the number of daily marijuana users among 18-25 year olds or adults age 26 or older.

An estimated 39.2% of daily marijuana users were dependent on or abused marijuana compared with 13.5% of less-than-daily marijuana users.

Daily marijuana users (63.3%) were more likely than less-than-daily marijuana users (38.8%) or non marijuana users (4.6%) to use another illicit drug. Daily marijuana users also were more likely to be current cigarette smokers and heavy drinkers.

More than half of daily marijuana users (53.3%) reported dependence on or abuse of alcohol or an an illicit drug compared with those who were less-than-daily users (36.5%) and nonusers (5.6%).

The percentage of youths aged 12 to 17 who had ever used marijuana declined slightly from 2001 to 2002 (21.9 to 20.6 percent). Among young adults aged 18 to 25, the rate increased slightly from 53.0 percent in 2001 to 53.8 percent in 2002 (Figure 5.1).

In 1965 and 1966, only 1.8 percent of youths had ever used marijuana. Beginning in 1967, use increased until it reached a peak at 19.6 percent in 1979. A period of decline followed until 1991, when the rate was 11.5 percent, after which the trend reversed, reaching a peak at 21.9 percent in 2001.

The percentage of young adults aged 18 to 25 who had ever used marijuana was 5.1 percent in 1965, but increased steadily to 54.4 percent in 1982. Although the rate for young adults declined somewhat from 1982 to 1993, it did not drop below 43 percent and actually increased to 53.8 percent by 2002.

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• Rapid, loud talking and bursts of laughter in early stages of intoxication.
• Sleepy or stuporous in the later stages.
• Lack of concentration and coordination.
• Forgetfulness in conversation.
• Inflammation in whites of eyes.
• Odor similar to burnt rope on clothing or breath.
• Distorted sense of time passage – tendency to overestimate time intervals.
• Craving for sweets.
• Increased appetite.
• Use or possession of paraphernalia including roach clip, packs of rolling papers, pipes or bongs.

How does marijuana affect the body?

Some immediate physical effects of marijuana include:

• a faster heartbeat and pulse rate
• bloodshot eyes
• dry mouth and throat.
• No scientific evidence indicates that marijuana improves hearing, eyesight, and skin sensitivity.

Marijuana use increases the heart rate as much as 50 percent, depending on the amount of THC.

It can cause chest pain in people who have a poor blood supply to the heart – and it produces these effects more rapidly than tobacco smoke does.

Scientists believe that marijuana can be especially harmful to the lungs because users often inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply and hold it in their lungs as long as possible. Therefore, the smoke is in contact with lung tissues for long periods of time, which irritates the lungs and damages the way they work.

Marijuana smoke contains some of the same ingredients in tobacco smoke that can cause emphysema and cancer. In addition, many marijuana users also smoke cigarettes; the combined effects of smoking these two substances creates an increased health risk.

“Burnout” is a term first used by marijuana smokers themselves to describe the effect of prolonged use. Young people who smoke marijuana heavily over long periods of time can become dull, slow moving, and inattentive. These “burned-out” users are sometimes so unaware of their surroundings that they do not respond when friends speak to them, and they do not realize they have a problem.

How does marijuana affect your mind?

Studies of marijuana’s mental effects show that the drug can impair or reduce short-term memory, alter sense of time, and reduce ability to do things which require concentration, swift reactions, and coordination, such as driving a car or operating machinery.

A common bad reaction to marijuana is the “acute panic anxiety reaction.” People describe this reaction as an extreme fear of “losing control,” which causes panic. The symptoms usually disappear in a few hours.

Long-term marijuana abuse

Laboratory studies have shown that animals exhibit symptoms of drug withdrawal after cessation of prolonged marijuana administration. Some human studies have also demonstrated withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, stomach pain, aggression, and anxiety after cessation of oral administration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana’s principal psychoactive component. Now, NIDA-supported researchers at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, and Columbia University in New York City have shown that individuals who regularly smoke marijuana experience withdrawal symptoms after they stop smoking the drug.

Studies at Columbia University in New York City have demonstrated that, in addition to aggression, marijuana smokers experience other withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, stomach pain, and increased irritability during abstinence from the drug. “These results suggest that dependence may be an important consequence of repeated daily exposure to marijuana,” says NIDA.

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Marijuana has been used as an agent for achieving euphoria since ancient times; it was described in a Chinese medical compendium traditionally considered to date from 2737 B.C. Its use spread from China to India and then to N. Africa and reached Europe at least as early as A.D. 500.

The first direct reference to a cannabis product as a psychoactive agent dates from 2737 BC, in the writings of the Chinese emperor Shen Nung. The focus was on its powers as a medication for rheumatism, gout, malaria, and oddly enough, absent-mindedness. Mention was made of the intoxicating properties, but the medicinal value was considered more important. In India though, it was clearly used recreationally. The Muslims too used it recreationally for alcohol consumption was banned by the Koran. It was the Muslims who introduced hashish, whose popularity spread quickly throughout 12th century Persia (Iran) and North Africa.
Marijuana in America

In 1545 the Spanish brought marijuana to the New World. The English introduced it in Jamestown in 1611 where it became a major commercial crop alongside tobacco and was grown as a source of fiber.

By 1890, hemp had been replaced by cotton as a major cash crop in southern states. Some patent medicines during this era contained marijuana, but it was a small percentage compared to the number containing opium or cocaine. It was in the 1920′s that marijuana began to catch on. Some historians say its emergence was brought about by Prohibition. Its recreational use was restricted to jazz musicians and people in show business. “Reefer songs” became the rage of the jazz world. Marijuana clubs, called tea pads, sprang up in every major city. These marijuana establishments were tolerated by the authorities because marijuana was not illegal and patrons showed no evidence of making a nuisance of themselves or disturbing the community. Marijuana was not considered a social threat.

Marijuana was listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia from 1850 until 1942 and was prescribed for various conditions including labor pains, nausea, and rheumatism. Its use as an intoxicant was also commonplace from the 1850s to the 1930s. A campaign conducted in the 1930s by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Narcotics (now the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs) sought to portray marijuana as a powerful, addicting substance that would lead users into narcotics addiction. It is still considered a “gateway” drug by some authorities. In the 1950s it was an accessory of the beat generation; in the 1960s it was used by college students and “hippies” and became a symbol of rebellion against authority.

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified marijuana along with heroin and LSD as a Schedule I drug, i.e., having the relatively highest abuse potential and no accepted medical use. Most marijuana at that time came from Mexico, but in 1975 the Mexican government agreed to eradicate the crop by spraying it with the herbicide paraquat, raising fears of toxic side effects. Colombia then became the main supplier. The “zero tolerance” climate of the Reagan and Bush administrations resulted in passage of strict laws and mandatory sentences for possession of marijuana and in heightened vigilance against smuggling at the southern borders. The “war on drugs” thus brought with it a shift from reliance on imported supplies to domestic cultivation (particularly in Hawaii and California). Beginning in 1982 the Drug Enforcement Administration turned increased attention to marijuana farms in the United States, and there was a shift to the indoor growing of plants specially developed for small size and high yield. After over a decade of decreasing use, marijuana smoking began an upward trend once more in the early 1990s, especially among teenagers.

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Signs of marijuana abuse: rapid, loud talking and bursts of laughter; sleepy or stuporous; lack of concentration and coordination; forgetfulness in conversation; inflammation in whites of eyes; odor similar to burnt rope on clothing or breath; distorted sense of time passage; craving for sweets; increased appetite; use or possession of paraphernalia including roach clip, packs of rolling papers, pipes or bongs.. Click here or the title above for the full text.

» signs of marijuana abuse

» how does marijuana affect the body?

» how does marijuana affect your mind?

» long-term marijuana abuse

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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced this month a trend of individuals being admitted for treatment for marijuana use.   The report comes from the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), which is an annual compilation of data on substance abuse treatment admissions.

That data showed that in 1992 there were 45 treatment admissions for marijuana use per 100,000 people aged 12 or older.   This number more than doubled to 93 admissions by 1997 and in 2002 was 118.   This resulted in an increase from six percent to 15 percent of all treatment admissions.

In a release issued by SAMHSA, Administrator Charles Curie exclaimed, “Marijuana is not a harmless substance, and these treatment trends emphasize that point.”

Executive Director of Narconon Arrowhead Gary W. Smith reports, “Although the number of people coming to us who are abusing pot is a smaller percentage of our total clientele, in the 30 years I have been in the drug rehabilitation field I have not seen these numbers of individuals literally hooked on marijuana and unable to stop on their own.   We’ve known for a long time that marijuana use can lead to other drugs but it is shocking to see people whose lives are being destroyed by smoking pot just like others we are treating who are addicted to crack or alcohol.   I believe this is happening because the strength of the pot that is being smoked today is probably ten times stronger then the pot of 20 years ago.”

Narconon Arrowhead is one of the largest and most successful programs in the country and it uses the proven effective drug rehabilitation and education methodology developed by American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard.

Marijuana has often been viewed as one of the milder illicit drugs, but data from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) shows that the increased potency of the drug has contributed to this trend.   The 2002 DAWN survey showed a dramatic increase in marijuana-related hospital emergency room visits.   Though in past most of these incidents included a mixture of drugs being reported, the number of emergency visits for only marijuana rose 45 percent over a two-year period.

There are over 400 chemicals found in marijuana smoke and 60 of them have been proven to cause cancer.   Marijuana contains the neurotoxin THC, which is a poison that affects the brain and nerves. When someone smokes pot, two things happen to them: 1) There is an almost immediate burn-up of vitamins and minerals in the body. 2) Nerves in the body go numb.

These two things happen every time someone takes the drug and it causes that person’s health to steadily decrease. A person’s tolerance to the drug also builds and eventually the individual has to smoke pot almost continuously just to feel somewhat normal because they have caused so much damage to themselves.

Marijuana’s negative effects also last well beyond the initial use. THC is lipophilic, meaning the chemical is fat-bonding and gets stored inside a person’s body for weeks, months and even years after use ceases.   This means the drug residues continue to cause adverse reactions, which has been proven by numerous studies.

To help someone overcome marijuana use or to get more information on Narconon Arrowhead call 1-800-468-6933 or fill out the form on this site.

For more data on treatment admissions reports and other drug use statistics log on to www.oas.samhsa.gov.

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Hashish consists of the THC-rich resinous material of the cannabis plant, which is collected, dried, and then compressed into a variety of forms, such as balls, cakes, or cookie-like sheets. Pieces are then broken off, placed in pipes and smoked. The Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan/Afghanistan are the main sources of hashish.
hasish

The THC content of hashish that reaches the United States, where demand is limited, averaged 6 percent in the 1990s. Hash is sold in solid pieces ranging in color from light brown to black; in texture from dry to soft and crumbly. It can also be baked into cookies or cakes.

Hash facts

Studies suggest that normal development of a baby may be adversely affected by heavy use of marijuana by the mother during pregnancy
The Middle East still today remains the primary source of hashish worldwide.

Short-term effects of hash

• Muscular incoordination, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea and reddening of the eyes.
• Concentration, short-term memory, driving ability, stability, balance, ability to process information and judgement are all markedly impaired.
• User feels calm, relaxed, talkative and giddy.
• Sensory perception seems enhanced, colors brighter, sounds more distinct.
• Appetite, reaction time, pulse rate and pupil size are increased.
• Sense of time and space distorted.
• Some users withdraw, or experience fearfulness, spontaneous laughter, anxiety, depression; users experience hallucinations, paranoia and panic reactions with larger doses and symptoms worsen in persons with psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia.

Long-term effects of hash

• Increased risk of cancers, of the oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus.
• Respiratory system damaged by smoking.
• Disruption in menstrual cycle, decreased sperm count, possible congenital abnormalities are also some of the effects.
• Psychological effects include panic reactions, psychosis, a motivational syndrome, diminished drive, lessened ambition and decreased motivation.
• Impaired educational attainment and significant adjustment problems.

What is hash oil?

The term hash oil is used by illicit drug users and dealers but is a misnomer in suggesting any resemblance to hashish. Hash oil is produced by extracting the cannabinoids from plant material with a solvent. The color and odor of the resulting extract will vary, depending on the type of solvent used.

Current samples of hash oil, a viscous liquid ranging from amber to dark brown in color, average about 15 percent THC. In terms of its psychoactive effect, a drop or two of this liquid on a cigarette is equal to a single “joint” of marijuana.

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A Review of Scientific Literature Supporting the Detoxification Method Developed by L. Ron Hubbard Click here

Rohypnol & GHB are being promoted to teenagers as aphrodisiacs. They can, in fact, be deadly. These drugs are known as “date rape” drugs which, when slipped into someone’s drink, can render the person helpless. Click here

DXM (dextromethorphan) is an opioid agent used as a cough supperssant. DXM has been around since the 1960′s and is found in more than 140 over-the-counter products. Abuse of DXM, especially by teenagers in the rave scene, is becoming more widespread throughout the United States. Because of this, interest in the drug is growing rapidly. Click here

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D-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is the most potent hallucinogenic substance known to man. Dosages of LSD are measured in micrograms, or millionths of a gram. By comparison, dosages of heroin and cocaine are measured in milligrams, or thousandths of a gram. Compared to other hallucinogenic substances, LSD is 100 times more potent than psilocybin and 4,000 times more potent than mescaline. Click here or the title above for the full text.

Phencyclidine, more commonly known as PCP, is illicitly marketed under a number of street names including Angel Dust, Supergrass, killer Weed, Embalming Fluid, and Rocket Fuel. PCP use reflects a range of bizarre and volatile effects. Click here or the title above for the full text.

Rohypnol & GHB are being promoted to teenagers as aphrodisiacs. They can, in fact, be deadly. These drugs are known as “date rape” drugs which, when slipped into someone’s drink, can render the person helpless. Click here or the title above for the full text.

DXM (dextromethorphan) is an opioid agent used as a cough suppressant. DXM has been around since the 1960′s and is found in more than 140 over-the-counter products. Abuse of DXM, especially by teenagers in the rave scene, is becoming more widespread throughout the United States. Because of this, interest in the drug is growing rapidly. Click here or the title above for the full text.

Anti-depressant drugs are NOT USED at our facility but are routinely prescribed at many treatment facilities around the country. These include Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Haldol, Prozac, Trazodone, Celexa and others. Click here or the title above for the full text.

OxyContin is the brand name for an opioid analgesic containing the active ingredient oxycodone (also found in Percocet and Percodan). OxyContin is a legal narcotic (a controlled substance) that is available, by prescription, to treat severe pain. Click here or the title above for the full text.

Pictures that can be used to identify various drugs. Click here or the title above.

A description of the effects and side effects of Rohyponol and GHB, two commonly-used illicit drugs often involved in cases of sexual assault. These substances are often referred to as “date rape drugs”, and are spreading in popularity. Click here or the title above for the text.

The non-medical use of prescription drugs is a serious public health concern. Nonmedical use of prescription drugs like opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and stimulants can lead to abuse and addiction, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use. Click here or the title above for the full text.

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Rohypnol, the trade name for flunitrazepam, has been a concern for the last few years because of its abuse as a “date rape” drug. People may unknowingly be given the drug which, when mixed with alcohol, can incapacitate a victim and prevent them from resisting sexual assault. Also, Rohypnol may be lethal when mixed with alcohol and/or other depressants.

Rohypnol produces sedative-hypnotic effects including muscle relaxation and amnesia; it can also produce physical and psychological dependence. In Miami, one of the first sites of Rohypnol abuse, poison control centers report an increase in withdrawal seizures among people addicted to Rohypnol.

Rohypnol is not approved for use in the United States and its importation is banned. Illicit use of Rohypnol began in Europe in the 1970s and started appearing in the United States in the early 1990s, where it became known as “rophies,” “roofies,” “roach,” “rope,” and the “date rape” drug.

Another very similar drug is now being sold as “roofies” in Miami, Minnesota, and Texas. This is clonazepam, marketed in the U.S. as Klonopin and in Mexico as Rivotril. It is sometimes abused to enhance the effects of heroin and other opiates. Based on emergency room admission information, Boston, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Seattle appear to have the highest use rates of clonazepam.

GHB information

Since about 1990, GHB (gamma- hydroxybutyrate) has been abused in the U.S. for euphoric, sedative, and anabolic (body building) effects. As with Rohypnol and clonazepam, GHB has been associated with sexual assault in cities throughout the country.

Reports from Detroit indicate liquid GHB is being used in nightclubs for effects similar to those of Rohypnol. It is also common in the club scene in Phoenix, Honolulu, and Texas, where it is known as “liquid ecstacy,” “somatomax,” “scoop,” or “grievous bodily harm.” In Miami, poison control center calls have reflected problems associated with increased GHB use, including loss of consciousness. In New York City, there have been reports of GHB use among those in the fashion industry. In Atlanta, it is commonly used as a synthetic steroid at fitness centers and gyms.

Coma and seizures can occur following abuse of GHB and, when combined with ecstasy, there appears to be an increased risk of seizure. Combining use with other drugs such as alcohol can result in nausea and difficulty breathing. GHB may also produce withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and sweating. Because of concern about Rohypnol, GHB, and other similarly abused sedative-hypnotics, Congress passed the “Drug-Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act of 1996″ in October 1996. This legislation increased Federal penalties for use of any controlled substance to aid in sexual assault.

Information and educational materials on Rohypnol and GHB directed toward college students are available from the Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center at 1-800-END-RAPE (1-800-363-7273). These materials are also being distributed by the U.S. Department of Justice to law enforcement agencies throughout the country.

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