Systemic absorption and abuse liability of snorted flunitrazepam

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Abstract
Benzodiazepine hypnotics are widely abused as pan of a polydrug misuse culture. This study set out to investigate some pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of a novel method of abuse, snorting, of flunitrazepam. Twenty healthy volunteers took pan: three took 0.5 mg, three took I mg, three took l.5 mg, six took 2 mg and five took placebo. Blood was sampled and ratings of mood, bodily symptoms, strength and liking of drug effect were completed pre‐ and at 5, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 240 minutes and at 24 hours post‐drug. It was found that flunitrasepam could be detected in venous blood 5 minutes after intake. As the dose increased, the peak plasma concentration was higher but also occurred progressively later, the levels reached being comparable to oral or intramuscular administration at 110 minutes. Subjects reported sedation but complained of few side‐effects. They liked the drug effects and subjective ratings of strength were correlated with liking and with plasma drug levels.

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