The pair of friends went back to their table, where Hansen texted her boyfriend and told him she was headed home soon. But within 20 or 30 minutes of ingesting her drink, she was fully unconscious. Anyone can be vulnerable to roofies, no matter their gender, size, or alcohol tolerance.
Greater Boston Outpatient Rehab Center
Some people who don’t drink often may become drunk faster than others, but typically not to the point where they become unconscious. Getting involved with therapy and support groups can help victims recover faster and more fully from the trauma of their experience. Long-term misuse can lead to dependency, with withdrawal symptoms such as severe anxiety, tremors, and seizures.
It’s important to remember that your safety should always be your top priority. It is important to visit a healthcare facility as soon as possible. They may conduct a urine or blood test to detect the presence of drugs or substances in your system. Prompt medical attention can help mitigate the potential risks and ensure that you receive the necessary care to address any immediate health concerns. When you believe you have been roofied, it is essential to report the incident to the appropriate authorities. Contact your local law enforcement agency or the police immediately.
- They’re a phone call away, and ready to help you navigate the tough times.
- The next thing I remember is the sensation of my bar stool spinning, and feeling like my mind was foggy.
- Recognizing the symptoms of being roofied and understanding what to do afterward can be lifesaving.
- Getting roofied is far more common than many people think, however it is difficult to know exactly how many victims there are since amnesia is often an effect of roofy drugs.
Additionally, the trauma can lead to substance abuse as a coping mechanism, potentially resulting in addiction. The date-rape drug you’ve likely heard about most is Rohypnol, which the ’90s slang “roofie” is a remnant of. Psychologically, Rohypnol impairs judgment and causes memory loss, making users vulnerable to dangerous situations, including sexual assault or other forms of victimization. When a person is sexually assaulted, it can impact their whole life, including their mental health, physical health, and well-being. Have you ever felt completely disoriented or found yourself in a situation that doesn’t add up?
What Does Being Roofied Feel Like?
Traces of Rohypnol leave the body very quickly, making it difficult to be detected in most standard drug tests. 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. A roofie is a central nervous system depressant that, much like the prescription medicine Valium (diazepam), slows down the brain and relaxes the body. The important difference is that a roofie is much stronger than Valium. One small tablet of Rohypnol can cause a person to pass out and forget what happened to them while under the influence.
Unlike alcohol, which typically takes time to affect cognitive function, drugs like Rohypnol signs of being roofied the next day cause sudden and profound mental clouding. You might find it difficult to think clearly or make sense of your surroundings. If the victim was sexually assaulted, you must stay by their side as they undergo a medical examination and make a police report.
This can significantly disrupt daily life, causing victims to withdraw from social interactions and feel uncomfortable in social settings. Assailants use them to incapacitate their victims and ensure they can’t make accurate police reports after the assault. Learn the signs and symptoms to know how to help someone who has been roofied. Sandstone Care supports teens and young adults with mental health and substance use disorders.
“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. Hansen and her colleagues would each nurse a few drinks over the course of the evening. It was around an hour after the second drink that she and one of her friends went up to the bar to get their third. Yes, some people describe the feeling after being roofied as an extreme hangover. If someone has been roofied, they should get medical care to be monitored to make sure they are okay.
Staying Informed and Protected
It’s also common to have symptoms similar to a really bad hangover. If somebody sexually assaulted you or you sustained an injury while sedated, you may have other medical issues, too. Knowing the signs of being “roofied” (being drugged with Rohypnol) can help you stay safe on a night out and reduce the risks of you or a friend being date raped. Seeking immediate medical attention also helps if the victim decides to pursue legal recourse. If the person has been sexually assaulted, they’ll need to go to a hospital so the facility’s sexual assault team can collect forensic evidence. Create a buddy system to prevent one person from getting separated from the group and, if necessary, take your drink to the bathroom with you.
Always holding your drink or keeping it close to you and covered can help reduce the risk of a drug getting slipped into your drink. 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. It is also important to go out with people you trust and ensure everyone looks out for each other. A roofie attack is when a perpetrator spikes a drink of an intended victim in order to take advantage of them. Other people abuse Rohypnol as a way to get “high” or combine it with alcohol to become highly intoxicated, which can be very dangerous.
Because these drugs incapacitate victims, they may fall or be unable to protect themselves, leading to injuries they cannot remember acquiring. Extreme drowsiness or sudden unconsciousness can also indicate being roofied. While alcohol can cause sleepiness, the level of sedation from drugs like Rohypnol is much more intense, often leading to complete unconsciousness for several hours. Victims often report “blackouts” or periods where they have no recollection of what happened. These memory gaps can occur even if the victim didn’t consume large quantities of alcohol.
What Are Rohypnol’s Effects on the Brain?
It refers to the misuse of Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), but other drugs like Ketamine and GHB can also produce the same effect. If you’re partying, clubbing, or enjoying your time outside, a friend might have warned you of being roofied. This means someone spiked your drink against your will to affect your judgment. The symptoms of being roofied can be traumatic, and you may need help to deal with the side effects. Sunlight Recovery’s experts can help you deal with roofied symptoms by providing individual and group therapy sessions.
Understanding Addiction
By maintaining control over your drinks and staying vigilant, you can reduce the chances of being roofied. It helps you keep a record of the event, which can be useful if you decide to pursue legal action in the future. It is essential to write down as many details as possible, including the date, time, location, people involved, and any other relevant information. Experiencing these emotional symptoms without a clear reason or trigger can be a cause for concern, especially if accompanied by other signs of being roofied. Drugs used to roofie individuals significantly impair motor skills. Victims often experience difficulty walking, an inability to stand and a sense of heavy limbs.
She had an almost full beer and asked me if I wanted it because she didn’t and I took it (this was my 4th beer of the night). About 20 minutes after drinking that beer, I was extremely happy and conversing and about 10 minutes later I don’t remember anything. My boyfriend thought I was just really drunk so he was scared I was going to throw up in the lyft but was very surprised at how calm I was. We got home and I couldn’t stand up for the life of me so he puts me to bed. We provide trauma-informed care, Addiction Therapy Programs, and comprehensive support to help individuals process their experience and address any substance misuse or mental health concerns.
- 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.
- A little while later, the group of guys she was with got up and left and said “nice to meet you” to the girl.
- These centers can help address both physical and psychological needs.
- Roofied drug tests, such as urine tests and hair tests may be done to detect drugs like GHB or Rohypnol.
Being vigilant and aware of your surroundings is crucial in protecting yourself from potential harm. Stay alert in social settings, especially in crowded places or unfamiliar environments. If you notice any suspicious behavior or feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts and take appropriate action.
Repeated exposure or self-medication with drugs and alcohol necessitates professional addiction treatment and detoxification to manage withdrawal symptoms and begin recovery. Stick with friends and those you trust to ensure your safety in party situations. By following these steps, you can provide immediate and effective assistance to someone who may have been roofied, ensuring their safety and helping them get the medical care they need. If you suspect someone has been roofied or given a date rape drug, there are a few critical steps you can take to ensure their safety and well-being.
With any luck, this practice will expand to include more of the substances commonly used to spike drinks. 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. In the sections that follow, you’ll find important safety information that will help you better protect yourself from the dangers of being roofied.