Type of drug and effects.
Rohypnol is a brand name for flunitrazepam.  It's an extremely potent tranquillizer, and is stronger than Valium.  It can make you drowsy and nauseous, as well as act as a muscle relaxant and to slow down motor reflexes.  Users often appear intoxicated.  In combination with alcohol, inhibitions are drastically lowered, and the user often passes out and suffers from amnesia.

Common Names.
The pharmaceutical name is Rohypnol, while common names include roofies, ruffies, roche, R-2, rib, rope, and roofenol.

Appearance.
Little white pills that can be dissolved quickly in drinks with no apparent effect on the drink.  <Work is currently being done to produce blue pills that lend a blue appearance to drinks upon dissolution. Unfortunately, white pills are still being produced, often by unscrupulous parties.>

What's the problem?
Roofies have become the date rape (and rape) drug of choice and are very cheap.  It's extremely easy for someone to drop a tiny pill in your drink, and you can't taste or notice the difference.  When you begin to feel strange, and perhaps even pass out, its very easy for a nice gentleman to take care of and bring you home to keep you safe.  Until of course he rapes you.

Protect yourself.
Watch the bartender mix your drink or open your bottle.  Don't accept drinks from strangers.  Keep a close watch on your drink.  Bring it with you to the dancefloor, finish it before you go dancing, or leave it with a trusted friend.  Keep in mind that the majority of rape is not committed by some stranger in a dark alley, but by a person known to the victim, often a friend or acquaintance.  Be aware of your surroundings.  If you begin to feel strange, find one of your friends to help you, in the absence of friends, try asking security or bartender for help.

May you never experience any of this horror.

under the influence