Specialized treatment centers offer comprehensive care for survivors of sexual assault, including medical treatment, counseling, and support services. 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. Since roofies can cause lasting impairment, it is important to seek medical help if you experience any lingering symptoms.

  • Substance abuse involving date rape drugs, as noted by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), can lead to physical symptoms, severe anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms.
  • Most of these drugs are understandably illegal in the United States and couldn’t be easily procured in the market.
  • Some side effects can be long-lasting, depending on how much of the drug you ingested and how your body reacts to it.
  • The strongest physical effects are usually felt within the first 6 hours and typically wear off around 12 hours after ingestion.
  • If you start feeling faint, either call emergency services yourself or ask a friend to.

“Roofied” is a colloquial term for when someone is drugged with Rohypnol or similar substances often referred to as “date rape drugs.” Gamma hydroxybutyrate and ketamine are also common date rape drugs. These substances are surreptitiously slipped into a person’s drink to incapacitate them, often to facilitate sexual assault. Roofies are often used to sexually assault victims, making it crucial to seek help and support if you or someone you know has been affected. By taking these precautions and staying vigilant, you can reduce the risk of being roofied and help ensure your safety in social settings. Remember that your well-being is paramount, and it’s essential to prioritize your safety at all times. If you suspect that you or someone else has been drugged, seek help immediately and contact law enforcement or medical professionals for assistance.

If you suspect you’ve been roofied, it’s crucial to immediately head to an emergency room for a comprehensive medical examination. Healthcare professionals can administer a rape kit to collect evidence and may also provide pregnancy prevention medication as a precautionary measure. The duration that roofies remain detectable in your system can vary, but the presence of symptoms of being roofied, such as muscle relaxation, is a key indicator that the drug is still active.

A 2015 study found that more than 30% of sexual assault incidences involve drugs used to roofie. 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.

Can You Overdose on Roofies?

Sometimes, people who engage in excessive binge drinking may “blackout” and not remember certain things that happened throughout the night the next day. If you have been roofied, it is important to get medical care and to have someone to help monitor you as the drugs leave your system. Mental health treatment can help victims to feel safe, heard, empowered, and healed as they recover from the experience of being roofied. Long-term misuse can lead to dependency, with withdrawal symptoms such as severe anxiety, tremors, and seizures. Additionally, its impact on mental health can result in depression, cognitive decline, and an increased risk of self-harm.

There are signs of possible sexual assault.

Whether you’re consuming alcohol or mocktails, the risk of being roofied is still present. Awareness and prompt action can significantly mitigate the physical and psychological impact of such a violation. By staying informed and vigilant, you can help protect yourself and others from the dangers of drugged drinks. For individuals who have been sexually assaulted, the trauma can have a profound impact, affecting not just the victims but also family members connected to them. It’s imperative for anyone suspecting they’ve been affected by such substances to seek medical attention promptly to mitigate these risks and address any changes in nerve activity or cognitive functions.

Addiction Therapy FAQs

  • Remember, if you ever feel that something is wrong, trust your instincts and seek help immediately.
  • It does this by increasing the effects of a chemical called GABA, which makes you feel very relaxed and sleepy.
  • Roofied symptoms often include sensations such as sudden dizziness, confusion, nausea, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness.
  • Reach out to the people you were with the night before to see if anyone can let you know what happened.

The date-rape drug you’ve likely heard about most is Rohypnol, which the ’90s slang “roofie” is a remnant of. Date rape is sexual assault during a social situation like a date or party. It can happen when someone is drugged with substances like roofies (Rohypnol) or alcohol to make them unable to resist.

What Drug Is Commonly Used in Sexual Assault?

A roofied drink occurs when a drug has been slipped into a person’s drink without them knowing it. Rohypnol causes extreme drowsiness, blackouts, reduced inhibitions, impaired judgment, and overall debilitation that can make a person unaware and unresisting to sexual assault. “Roofies” contain Rohypnol or other common date-rape drugs such as gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) or ketamine. If you believe you’ve been roofied, it’s important to seek help immediately. Recovering from Adderall addiction is not the same as recovering from being roofied.

Use buddy systems when going out, and make sure at least one friend knows where you are at all times. There are also test kits available that can detect the presence of certain drugs in beverages. Immediate and long-term psychological support is essential for recovery, ensuring victims receive comprehensive care to reclaim their sense of safety and well-being.

A fun night out can become a nightmare when you suddenly experience roofied symptoms. The situation can worsen if this happens around people who don’t know how to spot symptoms of being roofied and get medical help. Learning these symptoms in advance can go a long way in preventing severe side effects of being roofied. The sedative effects of Rohypnol are up to 10 times stronger than Valium. This means the onset of effects on the body can appear within 20 minutes of being ingested and can last for over six hours.

“These drugs can also dull your sense of hearing, making it more difficult to know what is happening around you or what is being said to you,” she explained. Frequently, these drugs can result in someone completely losing consciousness or quickly getting to a “blackout state,” Michonski said. They might feel extremely ill and have a hard time remembering what happened to them.

Once you’re in the care of first responders, they’ll take over this process. When we discuss what does roofied mean in a sexual context, it refers to the use of drugs to facilitate sexual assault. Roofies are commonly used to render victims too sedated to resist, making them an easy target for perpetrators. The primary goal is to disable the victim’s ability to say no or remember the event later.

Boca Recovery Center is here to provide the best quality care in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. We have certified counselors and medical professionals available to guide you toward healing and reclaiming your strength. Stick with friends and those you trust to ensure your safety in party situations. If you suspect you’ve been roofied, take immediate and deliberate actions to protect yourself and preserve any potential evidence. In the U.K., 11% of women claim to have been a victim of roofies or drink spiking. If the victim was sexually assaulted, you must stay by their side as they undergo a medical examination and make a police report.

Maybe a friend of yours noticed you acting strange, or maybe an acquaintance saw you leave a party with someone else. Reach out to the people you were how to know you were roofied with the night before to see if anyone can let you know what happened. By staying informed and vigilant, we can work together to prevent these crimes and support those affected by them.

Another indicator that someone has been roofied is if they have been talking to strangers shortly before effects present themselves, especially if said strangers have bought them drinks. And you have the right to choose who — if anyone — you have sexual contact with and under what circumstances. When an assailant spikes your drink with a roofie, they’re trying to take that freedom from you. If you have concerns about confidentiality, ask the therapist to explain the rules around mandatory reporting. If you don’t receive a consent form to sign before starting treatment, ask for one.

Victims often experience difficulty walking, an inability to stand and a sense of heavy limbs. This loss of coordination is far more severe than typical alcohol-induced inebriation. The effects of roofies can be exacerbated when combined with other drugs. Rohypnol is a brand name for the drug flunitrazepam, which is a powerful sedative and hypnotic medication. While it is legally prescribed as a prescription medication for specific medical uses in some countries, it is not approved for medical use in the United States.

Pull a friend aside and quickly let them know that you believe your drink has been spiked. Ask them not to leave you alone and to stay with you until you feel better. Don’t go anywhere alone, and don’t try to leave unless you believe you’re in severe danger. Stay with a group of trusted people if you start to feel dizzy, weak, or like you might faint. If you believe you were roofied or you know that someone slipped something into your drink, call emergency services to report the crime.