Traces of Rohypnol leave the body very quickly, making it difficult to be detected in most standard drug tests. Urine samples need to be collected in just 72 hours and saliva and drug tests are normally ineffective in under 24 hours. More elaborate hair follicle testing can be conducted after 72 hours but may produce a false-positive result if other benzodiazepines are present in the system. Amusement – It may seem cruel and unusual, but some victims of being roofied have had it done to them just for the enjoyment of other people. Remember the three women in California in May this year, who spotted a man slipping something suspicious into what-looked-like his date’s drink while she was in the bathroom? One of them followed her into the bathroom and told her what she saw.

The signs and symptoms of being roofied

  • Urine samples need to be collected in just 72 hours and saliva and drug tests are normally ineffective in under 24 hours.
  • Roofies can be abused as recreational or “club” drugs, much like ketamine, ecstasy (MDMA), or gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB).
  • The length of time a roofie can stay in y our system depends on the type of drug used to spike the drink.
  • Many states also have their own sexual assault hotlines and support services.
  • Someone who has been roofied will feel extremely intoxicated very quickly.

You can read more here about how long GHB lasts and how to spot signs of GHB spiking. 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. But, the dangers of being drug-abused, without violence or sexual assault, are also real. Get you or your loved one help for addiction or mental health issues today. Yes, roofies can cause amnesia, making it challenging to remember events during their influence.

If you believe you’ve been roofied, it’s important to seek help immediately. If you have been the victim of rape or sexual assault, then speak to someone today. If you see someone you don’t know but suspect may have been roofied then notify security or a member of the bar staff. If you are worried for their safety or feel they are being coerced or manipulated against their will then notify authorities or interject if safe to do so. 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.

However, despite the widespread knowledge that roofie is commonly used among predators disguised in fancy suits, identifying its presence is trickier than it seems. Signs include sudden disorientation, extreme drowsiness, loss of coordination, memory lapses, slurred speech, nausea, or unconsciousness. If you suspect someone has been roofied, seek medical attention immediately. At Greater Boston Addiction Centers, we aim to raise awareness about the dangers of being roofied and provide comprehensive support for recovery. Specialized treatment centers offer comprehensive care for survivors of sexual assault, including medical treatment, counseling, and support services. These centers can help address both physical and psychological needs.

Research gleaned from three large universities suggests that as many as one in 13 college students has been slipped drugs without their knowledge or consent. Seventy-nine percent of those who reported being drugged were women, and women were more likely to experience sexual assault after being drugged. Although it does seem to be more prevalent among the college crowd than among the population as a whole, middle and high school students, as well as older adults, have all reported being roofied. The act of being drugged without your knowledge or consent is commonly called “being roofied.” The term “roofie” originated as a way to describe the drug Rohypnol and its role in date rapes. Since then, the concept of roofieing has come to refer to several drugs used for this same purpose.

Loss of Muscle Control or Muscle Relaxation

When a person is roofied, the effects commonly begin within 10 to 20 minutes. 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. Rohypnol causes extreme drowsiness, blackouts, reduced inhibitions, impaired judgment, and overall debilitation that can make a person unaware and unresisting to sexual assault. If possible, get medical attention right away to test for drugs in your system.

Other commonly used street names of Rohypnol include roche, ruffied, ruffles, and forget-me drug. Today, there are blue-colored tablets formulated to be visible in a drink, as well as the colorless Rohypnol tablets. Perpetrators will use the colorless tablets to conceal their aims.

Treatments

However, when a person is roofied, they likely only had 1 or 2 drinks and don’t remember very much after that point until they have woken up. 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. Benzos and other drugs can be extremely dangerous, especially when mixed with other substances or given to someone when they are unaware of it. Roofies affect each person differently, especially if they have alcohol or other drugs in their system.

It also slows breathing, which can be dangerous or even fatal, especially if combined with alcohol or other sedatives. Sometimes, a bitter or salty taste to your drink can be a sign that someone has added something to your drink without your consent. 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. 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.

Roofies may interact badly with other drugs already in the person’s system, such as heroin and alcohol, or the dosage may have been high enough to cause an overdose. The first sign of being roofied is the onset of extreme brain fog. Victims also experience disorientation, difficulty focusing and concentrating, loss of muscle control, the sensation of paralysis and a feeling of extreme drunkenness. Some people may feel nauseated, and nearly everyone who’s given these drugs experiences lapses in memory. When slipped into an open drink, all these drugs result in similar symptoms – memory loss, lethargy, a drugged/drunk-like state. Signs include sudden dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, blurred vision, memory loss, nausea, extreme drowsiness, and difficulty moving.

Symptoms of being roofied can be confused with the feelings of being drunk, but the lack of proper judgment and loss of concentration usually worsen over time. In most cases, the person will lose consciousness and can’t recall what is happening. Plenty of victims forget what happened during the events from the moment they got roofied up until they wake up, primarily when they ingest larger doses of the date rape drug. That’s why most victims find it hard to testify for sexual assault and pinpoint the perpetrator since the drug can easily cause total amnesia when under the influence. Drinking with friends is a way to unwind from stress for many people, but getting intoxicated shouldn’t make you feel a sense of overwhelming muscle relaxation.

Even in a seemingly innocuous state like Utah, public health data resources suggest that one in six women experience rape (a figure that also includes attempted rape) during their lifetime. You may wake up feeling unusually intoxicated with no memory of having drunk much (or any) alcohol or find yourself in a location without knowing how you got there. In the United States, Rohypnol is used recreationally at lower doses as a party or club drug, more often by males. Its use among adolescents has decreased significantly but side effects of roofied day after not as much as GBH or ketamine have. Those who abuse Rohypnol often combine it with alcohol in order to produce an exaggerated high. Part of the appeal of Rohypnol as a party drug (especially among young people) is its low cost.

One way to tell between the two is that someone who is roofied may appear to be extremely drunk only after one or two drinks. Some people who don’t drink often may become drunk faster than others, but typically not to the point where they become unconscious. Being roofied can leave the victim with feelings of shame, paranoia, self-blame, depression, and anxiety.

Potential Long-Term Effects of Roofies or Date Rape Drugs

Roofied drug tests, such as urine tests and hair tests may be done to detect drugs like GHB or Rohypnol. Roofies typically take around 20 minutes to kick in, and side effects can last up to 12 hours. Rohypnol, or flunitrazepam, has powerful effects on the brain, including slowing down brain activity.

Can You Test for Roofies?

But there are protective measures you, your friends and the places you go can take to (1) reduce the likelihood of being dosed and (2) feel more confident when you’re out on the town. Instead, try to stay in a public place while you wait for the ambulance to arrive. If you’re with friends, alert them so they can keep an eye on you and intervene if necessary. It is also important not to wash yourself or any clothing from the night before to avoid damaging potential evidence. Also, try to speak to friends who may have been with you at the time to see if they can confirm any details.

What to Do After You’ve Been Roofied

When dissolved in a light-colored beverage, Rohypnol will dye the drink blue so that it’s more visible. It’s not possible, however, to see it in dark beverages like bourbon or cola, and some versions don’t include the dye. The Office on Women’s Health recommends watching drinks closely, opening containers yourself, and getting help right away if you start to feel odd effects. These substances are particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol, increasing the risk of overdose, unconsciousness, and assault. Drugs like Rohypnol, GHB, and ketamine are the most commonly used date-rape drugs, but it’s hard to know exactly how commonly they are used because many cases go unreported.

  • The situation can worsen if this happens around people who don’t know how to spot symptoms of being roofied and get medical help.
  • 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.
  • If you can identify the ongoing feeling of sedation and find it odd since it’s still early into the night, then it’s important to communicate your concerns since it could mean you got roofied.

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 or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault or rape and need guidance and support, it is important to speak to a rape crisis team in your area. They will be able to offer counseling, arrange health screenings, and advise about pursuing criminal charges against attackers. While it is never the victim’s fault for being exposed to roofies, some steps can be taken to reduce the risk of becoming a victim. While some of these may seem straightforward, many people who have been roofied fall victim to simple techniques used by criminals.