It is often used surreptitiously by perpetrators to incapacitate their victims, rendering them unable to resist or remember the assault. If someone suspects they have been roofied, it is crucial to seek medical care immediately to address both physical and emotional health concerns. Getting roofied is very scary, and you’re likely feeling anxious, upset, or even angry right now.
Many survivors describe the experience of being roofied as feeling like a severe and unexpected drunkenness. These symptoms often show up within 15 to 30 minutes after the drug is ingested. If you or someone else notices these signs, it’s important to seek help immediately.
When a person is roofied, the effects commonly begin within 10 to 20 minutes. 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. It can be difficult to tell when someone has slipped a drug into your drink because roofies are often tasteless, odorless, and colorless.
- In most cases, the person will lose consciousness and can’t recall what is happening.
- The pair of friends went back to their table, where Hansen texted her boyfriend and told him she was headed home soon.
- Remind yourself that this all too commonly happens ― to women and men, and to people of all ages, not just college students ― and that you’re not alone or to blame for the violence done to you.
For further help and support with the aftermath of rape, speak to one of the many charities that specialize in helping those who have been the victim of sexual assault. To be “roofied” or “getting roofied” refers to an instance (often involving sexual assault or rape) where the victim has been given Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) without their knowledge. These substances are particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol, increasing the risk of overdose, unconsciousness, and assault.
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It can be hard to predict how a drug can impact a person, especially when they don’t know what drug they have been given and if they are drinking, taking other substances, or on other medications. 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 may feel extremely drunk and “blackout,” where they temporarily lose memory or consciousness. When a person gets roofied, they can become dizzy, nauseous, unconscious, and experience a loss in memory, along with many other symptoms. A roofied drink occurs when a drug has been slipped into a person’s drink without them knowing it.
“Ask your friends and loved ones for what you need. Tell them what you need and what you want and how they can help you,” Cooper says. Even if they do not suggest you are to blame, these medical professionals may not be equipped with the most sensitive language to discuss your experience. By taking swift and decisive action, you can help ensure the safety and well-being of someone who may have been roofied. Your intervention can make a significant difference in preventing further harm and facilitating the individual’s recovery process. These effects become more significant when this drug is mixed with alcohol. Many people who have been roofied reported that they felt like their bodies weren’t responding to them.
Being roofied is a serious and frightening experience that can have immediate and long-lasting effects on both the body and mind. Understanding the symptoms, knowing how to react, and taking preventative measures are crucial steps in protecting yourself and others. Following these preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk of being roofied and ensure a safer social environment for yourself and your friends. 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.
Professional care is essential to ensure that no long-term harm is done and to assist in your recovery. These aftereffects can be emotionally and physically draining, leaving you questioning your experience. Remember, if you suspect that you have been roofied, it is crucial to seek help and support immediately.
Sleepiness combined with dizziness is considered symptoms of being drugged. Most people know their bodies pretty well and if you suddenly become very tired after having a drink and usually do not experience that type of response than you may have been drugged. Seeking immediate medical attention and considering professional counseling can help you address any trauma or emotional distress.
If you think you or a friend has been spiked, it is important to call the police or go to the hospital. Roofies typically take around 20 minutes to kick in, and side effects can last up to 12 hours. The attacker may also use force, threats, or take advantage of the victim’s impaired state to commit the assault. If you’d like to learn more about healthcare, check out our in-depth interview with Ian Kroes, MD. If there are any concerns about content we have published, please reach out to us at
Signs and Symptoms of Being Given a Date Rape Drug
Once you’re in the care of first responders, they’ll take over this process. 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.
How To Tell If You Were Roofied: Roofie Symptoms
It is also critical that you seek out therapy and other mental health services to help you to process the trauma of what has happened to you. 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. 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.
What Is Date Rape?
Taking preventive measures and staying aware can help reduce the risks, but it’s important for bars, clubs, and communities to work together to create a safer environment for everyone. Rohypnol became known as “roofies” or “the date rape drug” because sexual predators used it to spike people’s drinks, incapacitating them so they couldn’t fight back. 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.
This rapid onset means that you may not have much time to react before the drug takes full effect. If you suspect that you or a friend have been dosed with a date rape drug, it’s critical that you don’t attempt to drive. It’s equally dangerous to leave your location on foot or via public transportation. Having your drink spiked without your knowledge or consent is commonly called “being roofied.” And it can make sexual violence more likely. Sadly, owing to the rapid nature of roofies affecting the victim and their sedative properties, many people do not realize they have been drugged until it is too late.
- Roofies are dangerous because they often involve central nervous system depressants, which can significantly impair your ability to function and react.
- Having trouble breathing can also be a sign that you’ve been roofied.
- 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.
- About half of women have or will experience sexual assault that involves some form of physical contact over the course of their lives.
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. Because of the powerful effects of these drugs, many people don’t realize they’ve been roofied until the next day.
You may remember bits and pieces of what happened almost like a dream like state. Roofies also known as the date rape drug, is a dangerous substance that can leave you in a very bad position. There are symptoms and signs that you can look for to know if you have been “roofied.” Roofie symptoms can be hard to spot especially if you have drank enough to be drunk in the first place. Repeated exposure or self-medication with drugs and alcohol necessitates professional addiction treatment and detoxification to manage withdrawal symptoms and begin recovery. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sexual violence occurs to millions how do you feel after being roofied of individuals in the United States every year.
Stay Hydrated
The day after being roofied, you might experience a range of distressing symptoms. These sensations are a direct result of the roofied drug interfering with your brain and body functions. Because these effects can occur rapidly, victims may not realize they have been roofied until it is too late. Recognizing the symptoms of being roofied is essential for your safety.