GHB also produces a sedated state that can be accompanied by drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion. Both are dangerous at high doses and when mixed with alcohol or other substances. 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. The date-rape drug you’ve likely heard about most is Rohypnol, which the ’90s slang “roofie” is a remnant of.
ADDICTIONS WE TREAT
Tell them where you were and when you believe you were drugged so they can visit the crime scene and ask staff or witnesses if they noticed anything unusual. If you were at a bar, club, or public event, the police may be able to check the video footage to try to identify the perpetrator. Even when people have no recollection of what happened while they were drugged, they may feel a sense of wrongness after they regain consciousness. The aftereffects of being roofied can be similar to a bad hangover. Victims may experience headaches, muscle aches, sensitivity to light, and an upset stomach.
Therapy and support groups can provide the necessary support and understanding to help victims regain confidence and enjoy social occasions once again. 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.
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. Often, a person who has been roofied doesn’t remember what happened to them.
Recognizing the signs of being roofied, understanding what it means and knowing how to recover are essential for anyone planning to socialize in public environments. 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. Benzodiazepines, including Xanax and Valium, are potent depressants that affect the central nervous system. They are known for inducing drowsiness, confusion, and memory loss beyond the expected effects of alcohol consumption.
Several drugs fall under the roofie category because of their potent sedative and amnesiac effects. At the hospital, request a urine and blood test specifically for date rape drugs, as standard toxicology screens do not always include them. If you see someone who appears to be extremely “out of it”, unable to carry on a conversation, or passed out, it’s possible that they have been drugged. People who have been roofied often seem to be aware of their surroundings and enjoy themselves normally until the drug takes effect.
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. The prevalence of being roofied is alarmingly high, making it crucial to understand the dangers and be aware of the signs. Knowing how to recognize and respond to the symptoms can help protect you and others from harm. It’s good practice only to drink something you’ve made or opened yourself.
What to Do if You Believe You’ve Been Roofied
If you’re with friends, alert them so they can keep an eye on you and intervene if necessary. 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.
- A frightening aspect is the sudden loss of control – both over your body and your mind.
- The first sign of being roofied is the onset of extreme brain fog.
- Along with other drugs like GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and ketamine, Rohypnol is used to incapacitate individuals, making them vulnerable to various forms of exploitation.
- Document any details you can remember about your drink, your surroundings, and the people around you.
- If you’ve been roofied (or had your drink spiked with drugs), you might experience mental fogginess, muscle relaxation, and blackouts.
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You can either contact law enforcement or call the national sexual assault hotline to report the assault. If you are having difficulty reporting it, talk to a trusted friend or a therapist to receive support and advice. It’s also called roofies, la rocha, roche, R2, rope, Mexican Valium, circles, and the forget-me pill. Doctors in countries outside the United States sometimes administer Rohypnol as anesthesia before surgery. Rohypnol is easily dissolved and known for being undetectable in drinks, but newer versions of the drug can leave a bluish tint in light-colored drinks.
Rohypnol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, which means that if you have been roofied you will often feel overly relaxed, sleepy, disorientated, and calm. All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional. An unattended drink can get something slipped into it very easily.
Do I Need to Go to Hospital if I Think I’ve Been Spiked?
If you or someone else notices these signs, it’s important to seek help immediately. If you notice any unusual taste or if your drink seems off, it is best to err on the side of caution. Never leave your drink unattended and avoid accepting drinks from strangers. Keeping a close eye on your own drink is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect yourself from being roofied.
- Sometimes, people who engage in excessive binge drinking may “blackout” and not remember certain things that happened throughout the night the next day.
- Nobody seeks to get roofied, and when it happens, it’s important to remember that it’s not your fault.
- Ketamine produces a dissociative, sedated state that can result in hallucinations, immobility, and amnesia.
- Stick with your group and don’t go anywhere alone with someone you don’t know.
- You will likely still feel an element of confusion before the drugs wear completely off.
If they lose consciousness, call emergency services for medical help. Boca Recovery Center is here to provide the best quality care in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. RAINN provides a convenient chat feature as well as the National Sexual Assault Hotline for those who believe they have fallen victim how to know if you were roofied or just drunk to sexual assault.
What Is in Roofies?
One of the reasons roofies are so dangerous is that they usually do not alter the taste of your drink. Most roofies are designed to be odorless and tasteless, making it nearly impossible to detect their presence by flavor alone. Understanding what a roofie attack is can help you recognize the dangers in social settings.
The mental and emotional fallout from being attacked can last for years after the event, especially if it is not addressed with the help of a professional. Roofies can also cause a person to become incapacitated, which can put them in very dangerous situations. If you think you or a friend has been spiked, it is important to call the police or go to the hospital. Roofied drug tests, such as urine tests and hair tests may be done to detect drugs like GHB or Rohypnol.
In the U.K., 11% of women claim to have been a victim of roofies or drink spiking. If the person is unconscious, ask the doctors to test for date rape drugs in their system. Since some drugs take more than 10 hours to leave the system, the doctors may be able to detect the exact roofie drug that was administered and provide the appropriate treatment.