Assignment 1

1. Elaborate on the effects of Rohypnol and the reason why it is called the date
rape drug

2. Indicate how the disengaged or uninvolved family system can contribute to

juvenile delinquency.

Student Details
Mr P H Dotyeni
36086355

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 Table of Contents
1. Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 3
2. What is Rohypnol? ............................................................................................................................. 3
2.1 What are some of the effects of Rohypnol? ........................................................................... 3
2.2 Why call Rohypnol a date rape drug? ..................................................................................... 4
3. What is a disengaged/uninvolved family system?......................................................................... 5
3.1 How this family system interprets broken rules ..................................................................... 5
3.2 Explanation of how family members function in these families (focus on neglected
children) ................................................................................................................................................... 5
3.3 How can permissive supervision of children contribute to delinquency? .......................... 6
4. CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................... 6
5. BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................. 7

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1. Introduction

Perhaps one of the most traumatizing experiences must be suffering the cruelness of a
perpetrator by sexual assault. That harrowing experience must last a lifetime with the
victim. What could make a victim more traumatized or even paranoid could arguably be
the idea that a perpetrator might have drugged you and you do not remember a single
that happened, yet, all evidence remains visible on your entire body that you went
through hell.

In this short assignment I seek to elaborate on the effects of Rohypnol and the reason
why it is called the date rape drug. Rohypnol, a potent sedative-hypnotic drug
prescribed extensively throughout the world, is illegal in the United States and some
parts of the world. The drug gained popularity among youths as a cheap means of
intoxication and subsequently become the focus of numerous criminal investigations.
University students and working men alike allegedly slip Rohypnol tablets into
unsuspecting women's drinks and then sexually abuse their sedated victims. It is this
phenomenon is wish to explore and answer a few questions (Saum et al, 1997).

I shall also attempt to indicate how the disengaged or uninvolved family system can
contribute to juvenile delinquency by discussing the topic under the following
subheadings:
 Definition of disengaged/uninvolved family system
 I shall indicate how this family system interprets broken rules
 Explanation of how family members function in these families (focus on
neglected children)
 How can permissive supervision of children contribute to delinquency?

2. What is Rohypnol?
Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol TM) is a sedative-hypnotic benzodiazepine manufactured by
the Hoffman-La Roche Company in Europe and Latin America, and prescribed in those
places for treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Milligram for milligram the Department of
pediatrics in Virginia USA states that it is 10 times more potent than diazepam
(Schwartz et al, 1998).

This drug is accessible as a white pill that dissolves without showing colour, taste, or
smell. It is designed as an oval shape, coated in a soluble substance, light green with a
blue central part.

2.1 What are some of the effects of Rohypnol?

Anderson (2018:1) indicates that loss of memory (partially or total) is an anticipated
outcome of using this drug. It is responsible for incomplete loss of human memory. Its

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users are incapable and unfit to recall particular happenings they encountered while
under the influence of Rohypnol.

Like other benzodiazepines such as Valium, Librium, Xanax, and Halcion, Rohypnol’s
pharmacological effects include sedation, muscle relaxation, reduction of anxiety and
prevention of convulsions. However, Rohypnol’s sedative effects are approximately 7 to
10 times more potent than those of diazepam (Valium). The effects of Rohypnol appear
approximately 15 to 20 minutes after administration and last approximately four to six
hours. Some residual effects can be found 12 hours or more after administration.

Anderson (2018:1) states that Rohypnol is commonly taken orally. According to him, it is
frequently mixed with other substances such as alcohol. The usage of this drug causes
direct effects, including:

 amnesia
 impaired judgment
 slurred speech
 slow reaction
 narcolepsy (drowsiness/sleep)
 loss of motor control
 lack of coordination
 confusion
 gastrointestinal disturbances

Higher doses may produce respiratory depression. The chronic use of Rohypnol can
result in physical dependence, and withdrawal may occur when the drug is
discontinued. Rohypnol impairs cognitive and psychomotor functions affecting reaction
time.

2.2 Why call Rohypnol a date rape drug?

Anderson (2018:1) indicates that loss of memory (partially or total) is an anticipated

outcome of using this drug. It is responsible for incomplete loss of human memory. Its
users are incapable and unfit to recall particular happenings they encountered while
under the influence of Rohypnol.

This reaction is particularly risky and life threatening when flunitrazepam is taken to aid
in sexual assault incidents. Victims of such crimes are incapable of remembering
incidents pertaining to the assault itself and the attacker. This drug is accessible as a
white pill that dissolves without showing colour, taste, or smell. It is designed as an oval
shape, coated in a soluble substance, light green with a blue central part.

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Like other benzodiazepines such as Valium, Librium, Xanax, and Halcion, Rohypnol’s
pharmacological effects include sedation, muscle relaxation, reduction of anxiety and
prevention of convulsions. However, Rohypnol’s sedative effects are approximately 7 to
10 times more potent than those of diazepam (Valium). The effects of Rohypnol appear
approximately 15 to 20 minutes after administration and last approximately four to six
hours. Some residual effects can be found 12 hours or more after administration.

3. What is a disengaged/uninvolved family system?

Olson(2016) states that the uninvolved style of parenting consists of high levels of
chaos and disengagement. In uninvolved parenting, parents often ignore the child,
letting the child’s preferences prevail as long as those preferences do not interfere with
the parents' activities. As the uninvolved style becomes more extreme, it moves toward
the “chaotic disengaged” pattern. This pattern is problematic for children because they
are left on their own without emotional support and a lack of consistent rules and
expectations. The uninvolved style of parenting is not often discussed in published
research, but in many instances it is combined with the rejecting style. Children of
uninvolved parents are often withdrawn loners and low achievers.
3.1 How this family system interprets broken rules

When rules are broken, the system is slow to respond. The child may, for example, be
engaging in delinquent behavior and staying away from school without any reaction
from the family system. The family operates in a kind of vacuum as a result of
inadequate parental functioning. On the positive side, children may develop a strong
sense of autonomy within such a family system, which supports independent
functioning. Typically, these families do not share in joint activities during leisure time.
They do not have intimate communication with each other in the sense that children do
not talk about their future plans or share their thoughts and feelings with their parents.
Because of the weak relationship between parent and child, parents often feel that they
cannot "get through" to their children. They feel that the children are not a part of the
family, because they stay in their own rooms or outside the house most of the time.
3.2 Explanation of how family members function in these families (focus on
neglected children)

According to Minuchin (in Janzen & Harris 1997:76–77), disengagement in families

limits the normal protective functions of the family and sharply decreases feelings of
loyalty and the capacity to share with other members and to request help from them
when needed. The result is that the emotional distance between family members does
not allow the stresses experienced by one member to be shared by other members,
except when stress is unusually high and persistent. This means that the disengaged
family is an individually oriented family, with each member being primarily concerned
about his or her own interests. Individual members may feel disrespected,
misunderstood and alone. They may respond by further withdrawal; consequently,

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distance between family members may increase and power struggles or physical
conflict may ensue. Given such a state of affairs, family relationships deteriorate.
Particularly during adolescence, these types of family relationships and communication
patterns may lead to intense conflict and aggressive interaction between parents and
children.
3.3 How can permissive supervision of children contribute to delinquency?

Disengaged parents have little interest in their roles as parents. They set few rules of
behavior for their children and do not supervise them properly. Rejecting or neglectful
parenting methods and child abuse are related to antisocial, aggressive and violent
behavior in adolescents (Johnson 2016; Whithers 2014). The chaotic condition of
parental supervision and discipline is characteristic of family systems in which juvenile
delinquency occurs. An uncaring attitude and slack or permissive supervision of children
are typical of parents of many offenders. These parents are not as concerned about
their children's activities as other parents; they are usually too busy or self-involved to
support their child at school functions, teach them life skills or encourage socially
acceptable behavior (Walton 2012).

According to Cherry (2018), research indicated that permissive supervision from parents
can lead to children displaying low achievement in many areas, that is, more aggression
and less emotional understanding and that they can be more prone to delinquency and
substance abuse.

Proper supervision and well-balanced discipline safeguard children against a high-risk

environment. The absence of such supervision and discipline, as in the case of the
disengaged family system, leaves children more susceptible to criminal influences.
Parenting practices based on support and control, such as monitoring, acceptance and
strictness, are related to lower engagement of adolescents in externalizing problem
behaviors, such as delinquency and aggression.

4. CONCLUSION

There are a few insights I wish to leave the reader of this assignment with and that is
Rohypnol can be considered a very dangerous drug for both males and females. In the
South African context women are not only sexually assaulted but also brutally murdered
for their body parts. Such drugs should never be approved for use.

Lastly, juvenile delinquents can be said to be caused by broken families. This is an old
aged truth. The common saying, “it takes a whole village to raise a child” stems from the
idea that the family structure is important in raising all children.

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5. BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Saum, C.A. and Inciardi, J.A., 1997. Rohypnol misuse in the United
States. Substance Use & Misuse, 32(6), pp.723-731.
2. Schwartz, R.H. and Weaver, A.B., 1998. Rohypnol, the date rape drug. Clinical
pediatrics, 37(5), p.321.
3. Olson, D.H. and Gorall, D.M., 2006. Faces IV and the Circumplex
model. Minneapolis, MN: Life Innovations.