Roofied 7+ Signs of Drink Spiking and How to Recover

It does this by increasing the effects of a chemical called GABA, which makes you feel very relaxed and sleepy. Once taken, roofie drugs can cause effects that put someone in danger very quickly. It is also important to seek medical help, especially since you don’t know what you have been given and how your body may react to it. Roofies usually don’t have a taste, which can make it difficult to tell if a drug may have slipped into your drink. It is also important to note that a substance can be slipped into a drink almost instantly, especially if it is in powder form. Drink spiking can occur within seconds, so it is essential to be observant and careful any time you are out drinking.

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If you’re partying, clubbing, or enjoying your time outside, a friend might have warned you of being roofied. This means someone spiked your drink against your will to affect your judgment. But, the dangers of being drug-abused, without violence or sexual assault, are also real. In Australia, ketamine (sometimes called Special K) and gamma-hydroxybutyrate, (liquid ecstasy) are also commonly used.

However, it will likely need to involve both physical and mental care. Getting medical attention is essential to make sure that the drugs are safely leaving the body and to check for any underlying injuries or interactions. Psychologically, Rohypnol impairs judgment and causes memory loss, making users vulnerable to dangerous situations, including sexual assault or other forms of victimization. Unfortunately, these drugs can result in permanent cognitive impairment in some cases, particularly if seizures occur. However, it’s more common for victims to experience psychological issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. This can lead to struggling with work and school obligations, an inability to form and maintain positive relationships i think i got roofied and using drugs and/or alcohol to self-medicate.

Seek care in the emergency room, preferably one that has sexual assault nurse examiners to conduct a medical forensic examination, Riviello said. The date-rape drug you’ve likely heard about most is Rohypnol, which the ’90s slang “roofie” is a remnant of. 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. Consider reaching out to a trusted friend, healthcare provider, or counselor for support.

Remember, you are not alone—there are numerous resources and support systems available, including the national sexual assault hotline and local treatment centers. Be prepared to provide emotional support even after they’re discharged and the side effects of being roofied start. Remind them that the traumatic event wasn’t their fault, especially if they were sexually assaulted or raped. 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. It’s typical (and frightening) to have partial or total memory loss after a roofie attack.

Common Date Rape Drugs

One small tablet of Rohypnol can cause a person to pass out and forget what happened to them while under the influence. Although anyone can get roofied, women are more likely to get roofied than men. Teens and women younger than 30 are at a higher risk than older women. To keep my index finger over the opening a bottle while walking through a crowd. People who have been roofied often seem to be aware of their surroundings and enjoy themselves normally until the drug takes effect. Blurred sight, tunnel vision, or double vision are all common symptoms of being roofied.

When slipped into an open drink, all these drugs result in similar symptoms – memory loss, lethargy, a drugged/drunk-like state. 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. GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) is a central nervous system depressant that is sometimes prescribed to treat narcolepsy, a sleep disorder. It can produce feelings of confusion, drowsiness, and amnesia or sedate a person in large doses.

Which Drugs Are Used to Roofie?

When learning how to recover from being roofied, you may experience unpleasant flashbacks, anxiety attacks and even PTSD. A 2015 study found that more than 30% of sexual assault incidences involve drugs used to roofie. 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. Most of all, don’t underestimate the stress and trauma of your experience.

• Substance misuse, whether intentional or involuntary, can have severe consequences on mental health and overall well-being.
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• This feeling of lost time is often accompanied by physical symptoms such as muscle soreness, dizziness, nausea, and headaches.
• Mental health professionals, including therapists and counselors, can help survivors cope with the trauma and begin to rebuild their lives.

Seeking urgent medical treatment and law enforcement involvement are essential steps to ensure the victim’s safety and to collect evidence that could be used in legal action. Yes, trauma can sometimes lead to substance use as a coping mechanism, increasing addiction risk. Seeking professional help through therapy and addiction treatment programs can offer healthier coping skills and support. Signs include sudden dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, blurred vision, memory loss, nausea, extreme drowsiness, and difficulty moving. These symptoms often appear suddenly and may not match the amount of alcohol consumed. Have you or someone you know going through the pain of getting roofied?

Immediate Symptoms

• 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.
• If the person is unconscious, ask the doctors to test for date rape drugs in their system.
• If you notice these symptoms, seek immediate help and stay away from the person you think is trying to assault you.
• When CNS depressants like Rohypnol, GHB, or Ketamine are ingested, they disrupt normal brain activity, causing significant impairments.
• Our caring team specializes in addressing the emotional, physical, and psychological consequences of drug-related abuse.

Whether through hotlines, mental health services, or legal assistance, there are numerous resources available to assist survivors in healing from this devastating experience. The symptoms of being roofied can be traumatic, and you may need help to deal with the side effects. Sunlight Recovery’s experts can help you deal with roofied symptoms by providing individual and group therapy sessions.

Offenders use this drug, usually referred to as the date rape drug, to facilitate committing sexual assault without consent. Seek immediate medical help, inform someone you trust, preserve any evidence (like your drink), and report the incident to local authorities. Follow-up care, including therapy, can help address any emotional impact. In some cases, individuals may turn to substance use as a way to cope with the emotional aftermath. At Greater Boston Addiction Centers, our Addiction Therapy Programs provide trauma-informed care to help individuals process their experiences and find healthier ways to heal.

Survivors of drug-facilitated sexual assault have the right to pursue legal recourse. Reporting the assault to law enforcement can initiate an investigation that may lead to the prosecution of the perpetrator. Additionally, working with an attorney who specializes in sexual assault cases can help victims navigate the legal system and pursue justice. These drugs are typically odorless, colorless, and tasteless, making them easy to slip into someone’s drink unnoticed. When combined with alcohol consumption, their effects are amplified, making the victim even more vulnerable.

The recovery process

We are here to help and provide guidance during these difficult situations. Survivors of drug-facilitated sexual assault often face significant emotional challenges. It’s important to seek out mental health treatment as part of the healing process.

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. Detection of Rohypnol is possible up to 60 hours after the drug is ingested. Once intoxication sets in—roughly minutes after ingestion—a person will pass out and remain unconscious for at least a few hours. You experience a lack of concentration, and you feel like you can’t control your thoughts. Perhaps the most startling aspect of Kisner’s account was the fact she wasn’t a victim to any violence. Take a printed copy of this email with the Test Authorization Order to the clinic listed in the email.

I remember looking around the room and seeing my scarf draped over a stranger’s bed in the corner. It was then I realised that the Canadian guy had targeted me because he was staying in the same dorm room as me, which meant he had a key to the room when I tried to escape. I was lucky my friend found me when he did, I hate to think what might have happened. If you wake up and suspect you’ve been roofied, don’t bathe or shower, as it could destroy the evidence of sexual assault.

“I just want people (especially women) to know that date rape drugs are not some rarity that only come out at frat parties,” she wrote in the thread, which went viral on the platform. “At least 50% of sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator and/or victim,” Michonski said. You can take your freedom back by responding on your terms, on your timeline and in your way. Whatever you choose to do is the right thing — and it’s OK for that “right thing” to change over time. Just remember that there are a lot of other people out there who’ve been through the same thing and are happy to help.

The term refers to being unknowingly drugged with substances such as Rohypnol (commonly known as “roofies”), gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), or ketamine. These substances are often used to facilitate sexual assault, theft, or other malicious acts, leaving victims vulnerable and disoriented. Recognizing the symptoms of being roofied and understanding what to do afterward can be lifesaving.