Symptoms of Being Roofied: How to Tell

Drink spiking a person to sexually assault or rape them is also known as alcohol or drug-facilitated sexual assault. It causes deep sedation, loss of motor control, and memory impairment, making it difficult for the person to recall what happened. These effects can last for several hours, leaving the individual vulnerable during that time. However, in average conversation, “roofies” meaning is usually any date-rape drug that is used to target victims for sexual violence. As soon as possible, tell someone you trust or a bystander that you think you’ve been drugged, so that you can make a record of whatever you remember and get medical care, Michonski said. Sometimes the only sign you’ve been drugged is waking up and having no recollection of how the night went down.

Some of these drugs can be fatal in high doses — especially when combined with alcohol, prescription medications and other substances. Being roofied can leave the victim with feelings of shame, paranoia, self-blame, depression, and anxiety. These symptoms can last long after the physical effects of the drink wear off and make it difficult to function in their daily life. When a person is sexually assaulted, it can impact their whole life, including their mental health, physical health, and well-being. Unfortunately, because date-rape drugs aren’t always easy to detect ― they blend in too well with drinks ― many victims don’t realize they’ve been drugged or assaulted until hours later.

How common are date rape drugs?

Once their victim is defenseless, they can rob or physically or sexually assault them. The word “roofied” refers to getting drugged without your knowledge or consent. You may exhibit roofied symptoms when someone tampers your drink by spiking it with drugs. Repeated exposure or self-medication with drugs and alcohol necessitates professional addiction treatment and detoxification to manage withdrawal symptoms and begin recovery.

Immediate Symptoms

By being aware of these symptoms, individuals can recognize the potential presence of a roofie and take immediate action to ensure their safety. It’s important to seek help from trusted and supportive friends, family, and therapists after an assault. Personal or group therapy for trauma survivors can provide stability, peace, and healing after the event, so you can enjoy your life again. Check-in with trusted friends or family members who can bring you to doctor’s appointments, help with day-to-day tasks, and help keep your spirits up. Even when people have no recollection of what happened while they were drugged, they may feel a sense of wrongness after they regain consciousness.

Staying Informed and Protected

Unless the person has been constantly drinking or taking shots, the effects of drugs will appear more sudden. The most obvious signs of being roofied are almost exactly the same as symptoms of intoxication. People may willingly drink too much and be more impressionable under the influence of alcohol. Yes, roofies can cause amnesia, making it challenging to remember events during their influence. Always exercise caution in social settings, never leave your drink unattended, and trust your instincts if something feels off or unsafe.

Consider having a sexual assault forensic exam

• Urine samples need to be collected in just 72 hours and saliva and drug tests are normally ineffective in under 24 hours.
• 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.
• If you found this information helpful, please share this blog post to raise awareness.
• For more information or support, contact our team at 12 South Recovery.
• In many cases, it’s difficult to know when a drink or food item has been roofied.

In blood, it can be found for about a day, and in urine for a few days. Being roofied can make how to tell if someone has been roofied a person really sick, especially when they are given a drug in combination with alcohol, or they are taking prescription drugs already. Roofied symptoms often include sensations such as sudden dizziness, confusion, nausea, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness. When a person is roofied, the effects commonly begin within 10 to 20 minutes.

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. The most commonly used date rape drugs include Gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) (commonly referred to as “roofies”), and Ketamine. These drugs are typically colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making them easy to slip into drinks without detection. They act as central nervous system depressants, causing drowsiness, loss of motor skills, and memory loss.

• 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.
• The date-rape drug you’ve likely heard about most is Rohypnol, which the ’90s slang “roofie” is a remnant of.
• If there’s any chance you were assaulted, you can contact local resources for help, including sexual assault hotlines or medical professionals.
• If someone has been roofied, they should get medical care to be monitored to make sure they are okay.
• Trusting your instincts, seeking help and support, and preserving any potential evidence are crucial steps to take in such a situation.

The dangers are further heightened when these drugs interact with other drugs that may already be present in the victim’s system, potentially leading to severe consequences such as overdose. A primary sign of someone being roofied is the sudden and unexpected onset of symptoms. If someone who seemed perfectly fine starts to display unusual behavior such as confusion, dizziness, or extreme drowsiness, this could be a red flag. The person might appear “out of it,” have trouble speaking or struggle to keep their balance. This rapid change can happen within a short time frame after consuming a drink, making it crucial to act fast. 🌟 Take care of yourself and trust your instincts; they often guide you right.

Seek Support

Avoid letting the person shower, use the restroom, or change clothes until medical professionals have seen them, as this can help preserve physical evidence. Memory lapses or blackouts are common after someone has been roofied. The individual may not remember events that occurred after ingesting the drug, or they may have gaps in their memory. They might wake up feeling disoriented and unable to recall how they got to a particular location or what happened during a period of time.

We have certified counselors and medical professionals available to guide you toward healing and reclaiming your strength. Many states also have their own sexual assault hotlines and support services. Depending on your state of residence, there may be multiple resources you can explore to obtain the support and direction you need after experiencing sexual assault of any kind. NSVRC provides resources and tools for survivors of sexual violence, educators, advocates, and friends and family members. Following these preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk of being roofied and ensure a safer social environment for yourself and your friends. The appearance of these symptoms is often fast, and without proper medical attention, the victim can be at serious risk.

Drugs like Rohypnol, GHB, and ketamine are the most commonly used date-rape drugs, but it’s hard to know exactly how commonly they are used because many cases go unreported. However, when a person is roofied, they likely only had 1 or 2 drinks and don’t remember very much after that point until they have woken up. One way to tell between the two is that someone who is roofied may appear to be extremely drunk only after one or two drinks. Some people who don’t drink often may become drunk faster than others, but typically not to the point where they become unconscious. Recovering from the physical drug effects of being roofied often takes about a day, but recovering emotionally and mentally may take many years.

By supporting survivors, we can help them navigate their journey towards healing and raise awareness about the prevalence of this issue. It is important to remember that you are not alone, and there are resources available to support you throughout this process. It’s important to remember that these symptoms are not exclusive to being roofied and can result from other factors as well. However, if you suspect someone has been roofied based on these signs and symptoms, it’s crucial to take immediate action to ensure their safety and well-being.

The attacker may also use force, threats, or take advantage of the victim’s impaired state to commit the assault. Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Hansen, the woman drugged at an Austin bar, said she’s still speaking with a therapist to work through her trauma. “You can make all other decisions about reporting, pursuing an investigation later once you are medically safe and back to complete coherence,” Michonski added. 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.

You’re vomiting or otherwise feeling badly hungover.

The culture of silence around date rape drugs, Dr. Albers explains, makes this kind of crime easier to pull off. Instead, try to stay in a public place while you wait for the ambulance to arrive. If you’re with friends, alert them so they can keep an eye on you and intervene if necessary. They might feel extremely ill and have a hard time remembering what happened to them. Getting involved with therapy and support groups can help victims recover faster and more fully from the trauma of their experience. 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.