Suspect You’ve Been Roofied? Signs to Look for Addiction Treatment

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. When a person gets roofied, they may feel extremely drunk and “blackout,” where they temporarily lose memory or consciousness.

Which Drugs Are Used for Roofies?

• The phrase “being roofied” means that you have unknowingly ingested a substance that can leave you confused, unable to move properly, or even completely blacked out.
• In fact, despite being a Schedule IV substance, possession, distribution and manufacturing of Rohypnol carry the same criminal charges as Schedule I substances such as heroin.
• Recognizing the roofied symptoms and understanding the steps to take in response can save lives and help prevent further harm.
• As for men, one in three will have experienced a sex crime committed against them.

Following these steps can help ensure that the person receives the necessary care and that any potential criminal activity is properly investigated. The day after being roofied, you might experience a range of distressing symptoms. Because these effects can occur rapidly, victims may not realize they have been roofied until it is too late. Each of these drugs shares common characteristics—they are all CNS depressants that impair your ability to think clearly, move effectively, and remember events. When someone is roofied, they might be unable to say no, leaving them exposed to further harm.

What drugs are used to spike drinks?

They can also perform drug and alcohol testing using blood or urine specimens. Also, try to save the beverage you were drinking; it could potentially be tested to see what you were drugged with. With that in mind, HuffPost asked experts like Michonski to describe some of the most common signs that someone has been nonconsensually drugged.

• They are known for inducing drowsiness, confusion, and memory loss beyond the expected effects of alcohol consumption.
• While most people recover from a single episode of being roofied without long-term physical challenges, the psychological impact can be profound.
• If you or someone realizes they made some unusual choices or blacked out faster than normal, err on the side of caution and write down any signs of being roofied.

GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate), also known as liquid ecstasy, is a central nervous system depressant notorious for its ability to cause sudden weakness, muscle relaxation, and blackouts. Ingestion of these substances without consent can lead to serious consequences, including loss of consciousness and potential sexual violence. Being roofied involves a drink being spiked with a drug that depresses your central nervous system. These drugs are designed to sedate and incapacitate, which can make you an easy target for crimes like sexual assault. Knowing what does roofied mean and understanding its effects can help you take steps to protect yourself and seek help if needed.

Health Categories to Explore

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. The drugs change, but the goal — sexual assault — remains the same. 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. Supporting survivors of being roofied is crucial in their healing process and can help raise awareness as well.

“It’s scary how fast you can be drugged unknowingly, even when you think you’re being alert and aware of your surroundings,” she said. Hansen, the woman drugged at an Austin bar, said she’s still speaking with a therapist to work through her trauma. Stick with your group and don’t go anywhere alone with someone you don’t know. Definitely don’t attempt to “ride it out” without medical assistance, and don’t keep information to yourself, Michonski said. Unfortunately, the bar had no cameras near the drink station, so there was no way to identify whoever had drugged them.

If you can’t remember how you got from one place to another, this is a particularly concerning symptom of being roofied. It’s easy to convince someone who is mentally vulnerable to move to an unfamiliar place. So many roofie symptoms mimic those of drunkenness- and that’s no coincidence. Even close friends may struggle to tell what is (or isn’t) out of character for a friend who has been drinking.

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. We provide comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment, including therapy, counseling, and support groups, to help survivors heal and regain control of their lives. 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.

Let’s Take the Next Steps Together

Being roofied refers to the act of being drugged without your knowledge, typically by someone slipping a drug into your drink or food. The substances used are usually depressants or dissociatives, designed to impair memory, physical coordination, and awareness. If you or a loved one suffers from substance abuse, it’s time to seek professional help. Whether you are addicted to drugs or alcohol, the Mandala Healing Center is here to offer you the tools and support you need to recover.

To keep my index finger over the opening a bottle while walking through a crowd. Your muscles might feel sore, and you could have a general sense of weakness throughout your body. As the drug takes hold, you might start to feel extremely tired, almost like you can’t keep your eyes open. Your body may feel heavy, and it can become difficult to move or speak. You might try to talk, but your words come out slurred, or you can’t seem to find the right words at all. These signs often appear within 15 to 30 minutes after the drug is ingested.

They can also lead to memory loss, which is ideal for criminals who do not want you to remember you were assaulted. In some cases, victims may experience permanent cognitive impairment, especially if the drugs were administered in high doses. Memory loss and difficulty concentrating are common long-term symptoms for some individuals.

That’s part of the reason sharing your experience can be so powerful. 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 roofied symptoms next day wait for the ambulance to arrive.

The most notorious of these drugs is Rohypnol, a sedative-hypnotic medication. However, other substances like GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and Ketamine are also used for similar purposes. You can protect yourself by keeping your drink in sight, staying with trusted friends, monitoring your alcohol consumption, and using safety tools like drink covers or test strips. Being roofied is a deeply traumatic experience, but recovery is possible with the right support.