PENALTIES SHOULD INCREASE FOR 'ROOFIES'

Rohypnol. Roofies. Date Rape Drug. No matter the name, this antidepressant
is a threat to anyone who drinks at a party or a club. Easily slipped into
a drink, it causes the victim to pass out, later experiencing loss of
memory and a feeling of intoxication.

During those hours, the possibility that the victim will be raped increases.

The Iowa Legislature approved a study bill this week that would increase
the criminal penalty for anyone who manufactures, delivers or possesses
flunitrazepam, commonly known as rohypnol.

Currently the drug garners an aggravated misdemeanor charge, which is
punishable by imprisonment of no more than two years and a fine of up to
$5,000. If passed, it would increase to a Class D felony, punishable by up
to five years in prison and a $7,500 fine.

Reports of suspected drug-related rapes in Ames increased last fall from an
average of one or two cases a year to three in a single month.

The drug itself, a potent sleeping pill manufactured outside the United
States, is ten times as strong as Valium and is almost impossible to detect
in a drink. Its effects begin within 30 minutes, according to the Drug
Enforcement Administration, and can last for up to eight hours or more. In
addition to lost memory, a victim may experience decreased blood pressure,
visual disturbances, drowsiness, dizziness and confusion.

Most rape victims do not report the crime, so statistics for Rohypnol are
hard to come by. Victims must also be tested within 72 hours of ingestion
if any amount of the drug is to be found in their body. But over two-thirds
of rape involve alcohol or drugs, and Rohypnol is is one of the drugs most
commonly implicated in drug-facilitated rape, according to the White House
Drug Policy factsheet.

Making Rohypnol possession a felony is an important step in curbing its use.

The physical and psychological effects of rape are devastating, and the
uncertainty that lingers with many victims due to their loss of memory only
compounds the damage.

While warnings to never leave a drink unattended and to avoid accepting
drinks from strangers are becoming more prevalent, Rohypnol still presents
a danger that cannot be underestimated. Awareness and high fines could help
prevent the distribution of the drug, and the Iowa Legislature needs to
move quickly on both fronts.