Are you concerned about being roofied while you’re out enjoying drinks with friends? Roofies are also known as date rape drugs, and they can alter a person’s ability to make good decisions. This includes being able to say no to unwanted sexual advances. In fact, a study in San Francisco in 2015 estimated that date rape drugs were used in sexual assaults in 33 percent of cases. Date rape among those younger than 18 and young adults ranges from 12 percent to 68 percent, not accounting for the use of roofies. The most common date rape drugs are Rohypnol, GHB and Ketamine, and these drugs are most often put into the victim’s drink. Once the drug is consumed, the victim may feel drowsy, dizzy and nauseous. In extreme cases, the individual may lose consciousness, experience seizures or even fall into a coma. Because of the dangers of being assaulted and experiencing life-threatening reactions to roofies, it’s important for everyone to be aware of the signs of being drugged and to take precautions while clubbing.
Table of Contents
Understanding ‘Roofies’
The most common roofies include gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), ketamine and Rohypnol.
Rohypnol
Rohypnol is the brand name for flunitrazepam, and it has many street names, including roofies, which is where the term roofied comes from. Additional street names include roofenol, roche, roachies, rope, forget pill and mind erasers. It’s most often distributed as a pill that quickly dissolves in liquid. This medication is a benzodiazepine and a central nervous system depressant. It has no medical use in the United States and is not approved. In other countries, it’s commonly used to treat insomnia.
GHB
Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a depressant. When combined with alcohol, it can increase the effects of being drunk. It’s most commonly found as a colorless and odorless liquid that can taste bitter or salty. When it’s packaged as a blue liquid, it’s often referred to as blue nitro, and it may sometimes be found as a crystal powder. GHB is often taken orally. Its street names include fantasy, G, liquid E or X, cherry meth and fishies. GHB is approved in the US to treat narcolepsy.
Ketamine
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen, and it can help facilitate relaxation and calmness. It may even help reduce pain. However, ketamine has also been known to cause immobility and memory loss. Its street names include cat tranquilizer, super acid, super K, special K and vitamin K. It can usually be found as a liquid or powder. Ketamine is approved in the US as a short-acting anesthetic, and it can be used as a nasal spray to treat depression that hasn’t improved using other means.
Early Symptoms of Being Roofied
Individuals typically get roofied when someone puts a date rape drug in their drink. Since the most common date rape drugs are often colorless and odorless and dissolve quickly, it’s almost impossible to look at a drink in order to determine if drugs have been added to it.
Early symptoms of being roofied include suddenly feeling foggy or confused. You may also experience dizziness and disorientation or feel really drunk. The latter is extremely important to note, especially if you haven’t consumed very many alcoholic drinks. You may also experience blurred vision, altered hearing and problems with coordination as well as slurred speech or difficulty speaking.
Progression of Symptoms
As the drug takes further effect, you’ll feel an increase in the symptoms. You may also experience memory impairment and the inability to recall events. In extreme cases, it can cause the person to lose consciousness or blackout.
Physical Symptoms
Along with the initial symptoms, you may feel sick to your stomach or nauseous. You may even become so nauseous that you vomit. Muscle relaxation or weakness as well as headaches are also common after being roofied. In extreme cases, you may start to have problems breathing.
Psychological Impact
Being intentionally drugged against your will can lead to psychological issues. You may experience feelings of fear, anxiety and confusion, especially if you can’t remember what happened after you were drugged. These feelings can lead to trauma disorders and PTSD.
Safety and Prevention Tips
If you’re worried about being drugged against your will and without your knowledge, there are some precautions you can take.
- Make an effort to always pour your own drinks and open your own wine coolers or beer.
- If you’re out at a bar, club or restaurant, only accept drinks from the bartender or a waitress, never from another patron.
- Do not drink from any open containers, like a punch bowl or beer bottle, that could have been spiked on its way to you.
- Never take a drink from someone you don’t know under any circumstances.
- Once you’ve been handed a drink, sample it first. If it tastes, smells or looks weird, stop drinking it.
- If you start feeling the effects of drugs, get the attention of a waitress or the bartender so that they can call emergency services and keep an eye on you until help arrives.
- Consider buying a drink testing kit. These kits have the ability to test for ketamine, GHB and Rohypnol as well as other drugs, and they can test alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
What to Do If You Think You’ve Been Drugged with Roofies
If you suspect you’ve been roofied, you should get to a safe place. If you believe that none of your friends roofied you, ask them to take you to a hospital or have them call 911. If you’re dining or drinking alone at an establishment, get the attention of a waitress or the bartender and have them call 911.
If you suspect you’ve been roofied and sexually assaulted, you should seek medical attention immediately. The medical provider will assess your health and test you for drugs and sexual assault. It’s important to note that date rape drugs typically can’t be detected after 72 hours, so it’s important to seek out medical help right away.
It’s also likely that you’ll have to talk to the police. It’s important to answer all of their questions as thoroughly as possible so that they can track down the suspect.
Lastly, you may want to consider getting help at a mental health center. This will help reduce your feelings of fear and anxiety.
Support and Resources
- Date Rape Statistics for Young Adults and Adolescents – A study related to the prevalence of date rape for individuals in their teens and twenties.
- Rohypnol – information on the drug Rohypnol.
- GHB – Information on GHB.
- Ketamine – Information on ketamine.
- Illinois Department of Human Services – help with finding a qualified counselor.
- Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) – Network of rape crisis centers.
When going out for the night with friends or by yourself, whether it’s to a party at someone’s home or a public venue, it’s important to keep yourself safe. If you are going out with your friends, make sure to stay with them. Be wary or strangers, especially if they try to bring you free drinks, and never leave with someone you just met. If you suspect a drink of being drugged, the safest way to deal with it is to carry drink test strips with you and test the drink. If you don’t have any test strips, only take small sips of the drink and monitor how you feel. If you start to feel light-headed or like you’re developing brain fog, it’s best to stop consuming the beverage and get help.
If you need trauma treatment or are addicted to a substance, we can help you at Illinois Recovery Center. We offer outpatient programs for individuals who have a chemical dependency and dual diagnosis. For more information, call us today.
