Along with other drugs like GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and ketamine, Rohypnol is used to incapacitate individuals, making them vulnerable to various forms of exploitation. In this blog, we’ll discuss the signs of being roofied, what it means and how to recover from such an incident for personal safety and well-being. But whether or not you’ve been raped or sexually assaulted, it’s vital that you receive medical care.

What Are The Symptoms and Signs of Being Roofied?

If you believe your drink was spiked, you should find a safe place, call 911, and receive medical care. If you’ve been roofied, you will notice mental fogginess, muscle relaxation, lessened inhibitions, and possibly total blackouts. While these are common symptoms of drinking too much, you will experience them after drinking only one spiked beverage. Specialized treatment centers offer comprehensive care for survivors of sexual assault, including medical treatment, counseling, and support services. These centers can help address both physical and psychological needs. If you’re feeling distressed in the days, weeks, months or even years after being drugged, reach out for help.

Signs of Being Roofied: Recognizing and Recovering from Drugged Drinks

Rohypnol is no longer the most popular drug being used for this purpose, but the term stuck. Today, someone who says they were “roofied” could have had their drink contaminated with any number of substances. The drugs change, but the goal — sexual assault — remains the same. If being roofied has contributed to substance misuse or compounded mental health challenges, professional treatment is essential.

Additionally, its impact signs of being roofied the next day on mental health can result in depression, cognitive decline, and an increased risk of self-harm. If you think you may have been roofied, it is best to get medical attention as soon as you can to make sure you are okay and to get tests as soon as possible. Its effects, like sedation and memory loss, usually last 6 to 12 hours. In blood, it can be found for about a day, and in urine for a few days. Often, a person who has been roofied doesn’t remember what happened to them. Being roofied can make a person really sick, especially when they are given a drug in combination with alcohol, or they are taking prescription drugs already.

However, you can do several things to lower the chances of getting roofied. However, you can be roofied through substances such as marijuana and cocaine. Over-the-counter or prescription sleeping medicines and antidepressants are also effective roofie drugs. Contrary to expectations, you don’t have to be at a bar or club to get roofied. A family member or romantic partner can slip a roofie into your drink when making or holding it for you. Moreover, you can get roofied even if you’re just drinking water or juice.

Don’t leave the location unless you’re in imminent danger

Quick action can prevent further harm and ensure the proper collection of evidence if needed. Through education, support, and the promotion of safe spaces, we can make a significant impact in preventing instances of being roofied. By spreading awareness and empowering individuals, we can work towards a society where everyone feels safe and protected from this dangerous act. If the person is unconscious, ask the doctors to test for date rape drugs in their system. Since some drugs take more than 10 hours to leave the system, the doctors may be able to detect the exact roofie drug that was administered and provide the appropriate treatment.

They might feel extremely ill and have a hard time remembering what happened to them. The amount of time a roofie stays in your system can also depend on a variety of other factors, such as a person’s size, age, and metabolism. The half-life of a drug refers to the amount of time it takes for the active substance of a drug in your body to reduce by half.

It is important to avoid washing, brushing, or changing clothes before seeking medical attention, as these actions can potentially wash away or destroy valuable evidence. Preserve any items that may contain evidence, such as the glass or container from which you drank, and notify the authorities as soon as possible. Roofie refers to a class of drugs that are commonly used to facilitate sexual assault or robbery.

If you are experiencing symptoms of being roofied and suspect someone has slipped you an illicit drug, call 911 immediately. Don’t drive, and don’t leave the area you’re at unless you’re in danger. Try to stay around as many people as possible until help arrives, and drink as much water as you can to help flush the drug from your system. Unfortunately, these drugs can result in permanent cognitive impairment in some cases, particularly if seizures occur.

Long-Term Effects of Being Roofied and Recovery Options

However, it’s more common for victims to experience psychological issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. This can lead to struggling with work and school obligations, an inability to form and maintain positive relationships and using drugs and/or alcohol to self-medicate. However, it’s more common for victims to experience psychological issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Amusement – It may seem cruel and unusual, but some victims of being roofied have had it done to them just for the enjoyment of other people. You can read more here about how long GHB lasts and how to spot signs of GHB spiking. Yet, Rohypnol’s effects can last for several hours, unlike other drugs, whose effects can last for one hour or so. Remember the three women in California in May this year, who spotted a man slipping something suspicious into what-looked-like his date’s drink while she was in the bathroom?

Ingestion of these substances without consent can lead to serious consequences, including loss of consciousness and potential sexual violence. I had my drink ‘spiked’ once while travelling as a young backpacker through Europe about ten years ago. I had decided to have a drink in my hostel’s bar rather than exploring the city of Amsterdam at night (a safe choice, I thought). The next thing I remember is the sensation of my bar stool spinning, and feeling like my mind was foggy. He was very persistent, so I told him I was going to my room to get my coat and that I would come back (with no intention of doing this). Then I remember bouncing on and off the walls in the hostel as I struggled to my dorm.

• At Greater Boston Addiction Centers, we provide compassionate and comprehensive care for individuals recovering from trauma, substance misuse, or both.
• Rohypnol also makes it harder to think clearly or make decisions, which can put users in dangerous situations.
• If someone seems extremely intoxicated, especially if they have only had a couple of drinks, make sure to get them somewhere safe and get help if they need it.

Boca Recovery Center is here to provide the best quality care in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. In the U.K., 11% of women claim to have been a victim of roofies or drink spiking. If you think you’ve been drugged, there are things you can do during and after the incident to take care of yourself, mentally and physically. “At least 50% of sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator and/or victim,” Michonski said.

• The most notorious of these drugs is Rohypnol, a sedative-hypnotic medication.
• But, again, this can be the excuse your assaulter will use to get you out.
• Roofies have become so synonymous with rape that the act of drugging someone’s drink with any substance is collectively called “roofying”.
• The length of time a roofie can stay in y our system depends on the type of drug used to spike the drink.
• “I just want people (especially women) to know that date rape drugs are not some rarity that only come out at frat parties,” she wrote in the thread, which went viral on the platform.

This can be done through support groups, counseling services, or online communities. Additionally, it is important to connect survivors with resources such as helplines, advocacy organizations, and legal support. By supporting survivors, we can help them navigate their journey towards healing and raise awareness about the prevalence of this issue.

Although anyone can get roofied, women are more likely to get roofied than men. Teens and women younger than 30 are at a higher risk than older women. For this reason, it’s never been more necessary to know the dangers. To keep my index finger over the opening a bottle while walking through a crowd. Our Addiction Treatment Programs address both the trauma and any resulting substance use, ensuring a holistic approach to recovery.

Being tricked into taking an unknown drug is a medical emergency. Rohypnol, GHB, ketamine and the many other drugs predators use in roofie attacks are extremely dangerous. Some of these drugs can be fatal in high doses — especially when combined with alcohol, prescription medications and other substances. Having your drink spiked without your knowledge or consent is commonly called “being roofied.” And it can make sexual violence more likely. They are also undetectable, having no smell, color, or taste when dissolved in liquid. Most criminals who use roofies on rape victims will do so by picking targets in bars or clubs and spiking their alcoholic drinks with the drug.