You might experience blurred sight, or some form of tunnel vision or double vision, Michonski said. Suspecting she’d been roofied ― or that something else was seriously wrong with their new co-worker ― Hansen’s group acted fast, calling an ambulance to pick her up. Contact us today to find out which program might be right for you, or to begin the process of arranging for treatment. By Tracee CornforthTracee Cornforth is a freelance writer who covers menstruation, menstrual disorders, and other women’s health issues. If you feel unsure or uncomfortable, it’s important to prioritize your well-being.
For example, Rohypnol has a half-life of hours, while GHB has a half-life of around minutes. Different drugs vary on how long they can be detected in urine. These kinds of tests may also detect the presence of these substances even with the presence of alcohol. Roofies typically take around 20 minutes to kick in, and side effects can last up to 12 hours. Rohypnol, or flunitrazepam, has powerful effects on the brain, including slowing down brain activity.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Urine samples need to be collected in just 72 hours, and saliva and drug tests are normally ineffective in under 24 hours. More elaborate hair follicle testing can be conducted after 72 hours, but may produce a false-positive result if other benzodiazepines are present in the system. Always keep an eye on your drink, whether you’re taking alcoholic beverages at home or a party, bar or club.
- The emotional toll can be profound, affecting you even long after.
- Consequently, most drugs used to roofie people are date rape drugs.
- When combined with alcohol or other sedatives, these effects are amplified, increasing the risk of overdose and death.
- Stick with friends and those you trust to ensure your safety in party situations.
- It can be helpful to watch for signs of being roofied like loss of consciousness, dizziness, difficulty moving, or nausea and vomiting.
Detoxing Safely: When Medical Support Is Key
- When a person is roofied, the effects commonly begin within 10 to 20 minutes.
- Going to a hospital can help ensure a person gets proper care and monitoring to make sure they are safe.
- You may not know where you are, how you got there, or what time it is.
- Being roofied is a serious and frightening experience that can have immediate and long-lasting effects on both the body and mind.
If you suspect someone’s been roofied, the first thing you should do is have them drink as much water as possible. Make sure they’re safe from any possible predators who may have slipped them the drug, and get medical treatment as soon as possible. Although it might be tempting to just let the person sleep it off, these drugs carry serious risks. Roofies may interact badly with other drugs already in the person’s system, such as heroin and alcohol, or the dosage may have been high enough to cause an overdose. If you are experiencing symptoms of being roofied and suspect someone has slipped you an illicit drug, call 911 immediately.
You may feel embarrassed that you let yourself get into that situation, or that you should brush off the experience since you do not have a firm memory of what happened. However, it is crucial that you advocate for yourself and reach out for help. 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. One way to prevent being roofied is by keeping your drink with you at all times when you are out and not accepting drinks from strangers. When a person gets roofied, they can become dizzy, nauseous, unconscious, and experience a loss in memory, along with many other symptoms.
sexual assault
Other commonly used street names of Rohypnol include roche, ruffied, ruffles, and forget-me drug. When roofies are put into alcohol, there is a higher risk of respiratory depression, unconsciousness, and even overdose. This makes it difficult for the person to recall what happened to them after they took the drug. When someone is given a roofie, the drug takes effect quickly. It causes deep sedation, loss of motor control, and memory issues.
Since then, the concept of roofieing has come to refer to several drugs used for this same purpose. With any luck, this practice will expand to include more of the substances commonly used to spike drinks. Since spiking a drink aims to make the victim helpless, most drugs used to roofie cause muscle relaxation. Thus, alcohol is the most common and readily available date rape drug. A 2015 study found that more than 30% of sexual assault incidences involve drugs used to roofie. Consequently, most drugs used to roofie people are date rape drugs.
After seeking help, make an effort to take care of yourself and your mental health.
It is also important not to wash yourself or any clothing from the night before to avoid damaging potential evidence. Also, try to speak to friends who may have been with you at the time to see if they can confirm any details. Today, there are blue-colored tablets formulated to be visible in a drink, as well as the colorless Rohypnol tablets.
When an assailant spikes your drink with a roofie, they’re trying to take that freedom from you. Whether you decide to undergo an exam or not, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about emergency contraception, STI testing and post-exposure prophylaxis. Once you have all the information you need, you can make an informed decision about your next steps.
Ketamine (K, Special K, Vitamin K)
Drink spiking a person to sexually assault or rape them is also known as alcohol or drug-facilitated sexual assault. Rohypnols, also known as “roofies,” are powerful sedatives that belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. They are best known for their use in drug-facilitated sexual assaults. Roofies have become so synonymous with rape that the act of drugging someone’s drink with any substance is collectively called “roofying”. Other substances that are often used in date rape offenses include Ketamine (K, Special K) and Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), as they have similar effects to roofies. The signs and symptoms of being roofied closely mimic those of simply having consumed too much alcohol, particularly if consumed in combination with cannabis products.
Yes, date drugs like Rohypnol and GHB can cause short-term memory loss, so a person may not remember things that happened during the time that they were unknowingly under the influence. “Roofies” is a term to refer to substances that are slipped into people’s drinks without them knowing. The mental and physical health consequences of being roofied can be serious. By taking the above preventative measures and knowing the signs, you can better protect yourself. If you’re struggling to recover from the trauma, FHE Health may be able to help. Reach out to us anytime to receive compassionate mental health care.
What to Do if You Think You’ve Been Roofied
“At least 50% of sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator and/or victim,” Michonski said. Boca Recovery Center is here to provide the best quality care in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. If you or someone you love has been roofied, we’re here to help. We have certified counselors and medical professionals available to guide you toward healing and reclaiming your strength. Contact us today or view our treatment centers to learn more. Nausea, vomiting, and chills can set in rapidly, especially if mixed with alcohol.
Knowing how to identify the signs of being roofied is vital for protecting yourself and others. These situations are scary and often isolating — but help is closer than you think. Contact local law enforcement or a sexual assault response team. Even if you’re unsure whether a crime occurred, reporting helps protect you and potentially others. Drugs like Rohypnol or GHB can severely impair your motor skills. If you’re suddenly stumbling, slurring your speech, or can’t keep your balance — even with minimal alcohol consumption — it’s not just intoxication.
This can complicate the emotional response, leading to feelings of guilt, confusion, or avoidance. One of the hallmark signs of being roofied is retrograde amnesia — losing memory of events from the time you were drugged until the drug wore off. If you can’t remember leaving the bar, getting home, or even having extensive conversations from the night, it’s a red flag. To be “roofied” means someone has secretly slipped a sedative, hypnotic, or dissociative drug into your drink or food without your knowledge or consent.
If you haven’t already fallen asleep, you’ll likely lose consciousness at that point. The amount of time a roofie stays in your system can also depend on signs you were roofied a variety of other factors, such as a person’s size, age, and metabolism. When combined with alcohol or other sedatives, these effects are amplified, increasing the risk of overdose and death.
