Remember, you are not alone—there are numerous resources and support systems available, including the national sexual assault hotline and local treatment centers. If you suspect you’ve been roofied, take immediate and deliberate actions to protect yourself and preserve any potential evidence. Sometimes, people who engage in excessive binge drinking may “blackout” and not remember certain things that happened throughout the night the next day.

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This is why it is critical to consult medical professionals to make sure there is nothing that can cause long-term harm still in the victim’s system. Getting roofied is far more common than many people think, however it is difficult to know exactly how many victims there are since amnesia is often an effect of roofy drugs. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. 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.

1. Adding to the problem is by the time you do experience some of the following symptoms, it can be too late.
2. It’s crucial to any victim of assault, such as many women who long suffered in silence due to their experience with rape to have proper support.
3. And remember, testing isn’t always definitive—just because a tox screen comes back negative does not prove your drink wasn’t spiked.

Going out to have fun, meet new people, and just blow off some steam from a busy week shouldn’t involve worrying about being drugged and assaulted. Roofying someone without their consent is a criminal offense and can result in serious legal consequences, including charges of drug-facilitated sexual assault, assault, or other related offenses. Perpetrators may face criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and other penalties if found guilty of drugging someone without their knowledge or consent. In the United States, for example, flunitrazepam is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance, meaning it has a recognized medical use but also has the potential for abuse.

Can You Test for Roofies?

Since it can be so hard to tell if a drink has been roofied, it is important to keep your own drinks close to you when you are going out and to not accept drinks from strangers. Other commonly used street names of Rohypnol include roche, ruffied, ruffles, and forget-me drug. Someone who has been roofied will feel extremely intoxicated very quickly.

But you may have been roofied if the symptoms are stronger than you expect based on the amount you drank. Get help from a trusted friend, and make sure you allow your body and mind to recover. 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.

How Long Do Side Effects of Being Roofied Last?

Because roofies can make a person throw up, it can be hard to tell if a person has been roofied or is just recovering from alcohol consumption. However, with roofies, a person might have nausea and vomiting even if they have only had one or two drinks. It works by slowing down brain activity, which can cause extreme sedation, memory loss, and confusion. This drug also impairs motor coordination and relaxes muscles, making it difficult to move or stay alert. Noticing roofied symptoms right away can save lives and help protect against sexual assault and other drug-related crimes. Drink spiking a person to sexually assault or rape them is also known as alcohol or drug-facilitated sexual assault.

What should I do if I think my drink has been roofied?

Rohypnol belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, which are primarily used as sleep aids or muscle relaxants. It’s the brand name for flunitrazepam, which is no longer approved for medical use in the US. What is being “roofied?” Here’s how to recognize the symptoms and prevent this awful form of assault. Let us continue to spread awareness about this issue and educate others about the risks involved. By working together, we can create a society where everyone how to recover from being roofied feels safe and protected from this dangerous act.

Signs of being roofied include sudden confusion, uncharacteristic behavior, memory lapses, and physical symptoms such as nausea, slurred speech, or difficulty breathing. Drugging someone is a serious crime; your report could help prevent future occurrences. Provide as much information as possible, including any suspicious behavior or individuals you may have noticed. This can aid in the investigation and help bring the perpetrator to justice. A primary sign of someone being roofied is the sudden and unexpected onset of symptoms.

Saliva tests can detect roofies within a similar timeframe as blood tests, typically within a few hours to a day after ingestion. They are non-invasive and offer quick results, making them useful when immediate detection is required. These tests can detect the presence of roofies within 2 to 4 days after ingestion. The detection window may vary based on dosage and individual metabolism.

Getting involved with therapy and support groups can help victims recover faster and more fully from the trauma of their experience. 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. 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. 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.