Recognizing the Symptoms of Being Roofied

Nobody goes out for a night on the town expecting to be drugged. But we know it happens.

Having your drink spiked without your knowledge or consent is commonly called “being roofied.” And it can make sexual violence more likely.

The threats are real, but you aren’t powerless in the face of them. And the possibility of something going wrong shouldn’t keep you from going out and enjoying your life.

Understanding the what and how of “date rape drugs” improves your odds of avoiding it. Psychologist Susan Albers, PsyD, explains what roofies are, how to spot them in action and what to do if you or somebody you know is drugged.

What are ‘roofies’?

The term “roofies” is a little bit complicated. The word first appeared on the scene as a street name for a drug called Rohypnol (flunitrazepam). Rohypnol belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It’s usually prescribed to promote sleep or prep your body for anesthesia, which it does by slowing down the functioning of your central nervous system.

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.

Today, the most common drugs for roofie attacks are gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and ketamine. But they aren’t the only options. Some use prescription anti-anxiety and sleep medications to cause the same effect. And while not benzodiazepines, some attackers spike drinks with hallucinogens or stimulants that alter your behavior and reduce your inhibitions. Examples include:

• MDMA (also known as “ecstasy,” “X” or “Molly”).
• Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL).
• LSD (also known as “acid”) and other hallucinogens.

The dangers of being roofied

“Being roofied can impact every part of your functioning,” Dr. Albers explains. That means it’s always an emergency. The risks include:

• Sexual assault and other forms of violence. The primary reason to roofie a person is to sedate them, making them an easier target for abuse.
• Memory loss. “After being drugged, it can be hard to tease apart whether you drank too much or you got roofied,” Dr. Albers states. “Everything becomes very blurry and unclear, which makes it easy to blame yourself for something that wasn’t your fault.”
• Overdose. The class of drugs used in roofie attacks are potent sedatives. They don’t just make you sleepy. They slow down vital bodily processes like breathing and blood circulation. An overdose can cause respiratory depression or failure, cardiac arrest, coma or death.
• Interactions. Combined with medications, alcohol and other substances, roofies can cause potentially deadly complications. “Mixing these substances can rapidly compound their effects,” Dr. Albers stresses. “It can get very dangerous very fast.”
• Allergies. Like any other medication, drugs commonly used as roofies have the potential to cause life-threatening allergic reactions.
• Addiction. Many of the substances used to spike drinks — like ketamine, Rohypnol and GHB, among others — have the potential to be habit-forming. That danger is further magnified by the trauma of being roofied (more on that later).
• Injury. The mental and physical impairment that roofies cause can be dangerous even if nobody attempts to harm you. Even basic tasks like walking down the stairs, crossing the street or driving can become dangerous when someone has drugged you.

Drink spiking is a violent act. It endangers that target’s life and health. By staying aware of your surroundings and understanding the effects these drugs can have, you can help keep yourself and the people around you safe.

The signs and symptoms of being roofied

These days, would-be attackers dose drinks with a wide variety of different drugs. The individual effects of those substances vary, but the results are the same: They impact your ability to think clearly and remember what happened. And they work fast, usually between 10 and 30 minutes after they’re consumed.

“If you notice somebody experiencing a sudden change, that could be a very big red flag,” Dr. Albers says. “Maybe they appear to have become very intoxicated very quickly, even though they haven’t had much to drink.”

The same goes for unexpected shifts in demeanor. If a friend who’s usually shy and polite becomes uncharacteristically aggressive or sexual, for example, it’s possible they’ve been dosed with a drug that’s altering their behavior. Other symptoms include:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Extreme drowsiness.
• Headache.
• Dizziness, loss of coordination and balance issues.
• Confusion, disorientation and brain fog.
• Paranoia, panic and hallucinations.
• Slow response time and decision-making skills.
• Weakness or loss of muscle control.
• Impaired breathing or speaking.

Some drugs used to spike drinks leave your system quickly, while others can linger for 12 hours or more.

It’s typical (and frightening) to have partial or total memory loss after a roofie attack. It’s also common to have symptoms similar to a really bad hangover. If somebody sexually assaulted you or you sustained an injury while sedated, you may have other medical issues, too.

What to do if you’ve been roofied

“Knowing the signs and symptoms of a roofie attack can be lifesaving — both for you and the people around you,” Dr. Albers emphasizes. But what exactly are you supposed to do if you conclude that your drink’s been spiked?

Call emergency services

Being tricked into taking an unknown drug is a medical emergency. You need immediate care. 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.

Remember: Getting medical attention doesn’t mean you have to press charges against the person who spiked the drink. So, don’t hold off on getting help, Dr. Albers urges.

Don’t leave the location unless you’re in imminent danger

If you suspect that you or a friend have been dosed with a date rape drug, it’s critical that you don’t attempt to drive. It’s equally dangerous to leave your location on foot or via public transportation.

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. The same goes for bartenders and bouncers.

Drink lots of water

It might be unpleasant — especially if you’re nauseated — but it’s crucial to drink lots of water if you’ve been roofied. The more you drink, the faster you’ll be able to dilute and flush the drug from your system. Once you’re in the care of first responders, they’ll take over this process. But they’ll appreciate the head start.

Go to the hospital

Nobody likes going to the hospital. But whether or not you’ve been raped or sexually assaulted, it’s vital that you receive medical care. That could mean treating injuries. Or providing lifesaving care in the event of an overdose. It could also simply mean monitoring you while the drug wears off, or connecting you with mental health providers who can help you deal with any emotional fallout from the experience.

Consider having a sexual assault forensic exam

Sexual assault forensic exams (SAFE) — sometimes called “rape kits” — are medical procedures performed by specialists to treat any obvious injuries, check for less obvious wounds, and collect DNA evidence.

If you’re not sure whether you were raped, you may think a forensic exam is unnecessary. That’s a decision only you can make. But there are a few things to keep in mind as you weigh your options:

• These exams are free.
• Sexual assault exams happen at your speed. Nobody else’s. And it’s always OK to pause or stop the process if it’s upsetting you.
• The caregivers who perform these exams receive special training in order to provide you with compassionate care. If there isn’t a sexual assault examiner available at the medical facility you’re in, or you’re uncomfortable in any way, you can ask to be directed elsewhere.
• Unless you’re a minor, having a sexual assault forensic exam performed isn’t the same thing as agreeing to press charges. It simply means that — if you decide later on that you want to move forward — crucial evidence isn’t lost forever. If you have any concerns, ask your provider ahead of time about your state’s rules regarding SAFE exams and mandatory reporting.

Whether you decide to undergo an exam or not, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about emergency contraception, STI testing and post-exposure prophylaxis. Once you have all the information you need, you can make an informed decision about your next steps.

How to prevent getting roofied

To be clear: The only person who should ever be blamed for a roofie assault is the person who administered the drug. Nobody deserves to be violated in that way, and it can happen to even the most cautious people.

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.

• Don’t party solo. The buddy system will never go out of style. “Make a plan for how you are going to check in with each other before going out,” Dr. Albers recommends.
• Make a departure plan. There’s safety in numbers. If you’re going to make a move, move as a herd. Turn on location sharing on your phone when you’re out with people you trust so they can find you if you get separated. And if one of your friends is extremely intoxicated, never let them leave. Not alone and not with a stranger.
• Use whisper networks to your advantage. Over the past several years multiple cities have reported increases in drink spiking, often centered around specific bars and clubs. Before deciding where you’re going for the night, talk to friends and look at reviews to see if the venue has a history of drug assaults. You may also want to call ahead to see if they have specific protocols in place if somebody spikes your drink.
• Know your alcohol tolerance. Dr. Albers says one of the surest signs you’ve been roofied is feeling drunk faster than usual. If you’re new to alcohol, imbibe in safe spaces with trusted friends. Understanding your tolerance and how alcohol affects you will make it easier to notice if something isn’t right.
• Mind what you drink. Only drink mixed drinks (alcoholic or nonalcoholic) when a bartender you know and trust is serving them. At new establishments, order sealed bottles and cans instead, if permitted by the liquor laws in your state.
• Pour your own drinks. In a self-serve situation, never let anybody get your drinks for you. And avoid punch bowls, Dr. Albers says. “They’re basically giant uncovered drinks, which makes them a target of choice for would-be attackers.”
• Never leave your drink unattended. We all make mistakes. If you make a bathroom run without bringing your drink along (or leaving it in the care of a trusted friend), it’s time to toss it and get a new one. It’s an expensive mistake, sure. But you can’t put a price on safety.
• Gear up. You can buy stretchable alcohol protection covers with straw sleeves online that fit bottles and glasses of every size, shape and description. You can also purchase drug detection accessories like straws, nail polishes or test strips, but you can’t rely on them to pick up all of the substances that could be used to contaminate your beverage. So, caution is key.
• If it looks or tastes off, don’t touch it. Most roofies are tasteless, colorless and odorless, but you might still be able to tell that your drink’s been tampered with. If it’s unusually cloudy or fizzy, pour it out.

Drug manufacturers also need to be part of the solution. Roche, the company that developed Rohypnol, did just that.

“Because Rohypnol has been linked with sexual assault, the manufacturers redesigned the pill to dissolve poorly and release a blue dye when submerged in liquid,” Dr. Albers shares. “As a result, it’s much rarer to have a drink spiked with Rohypnol than it used to be.”

With any luck, this practice will expand to include more of the substances commonly used to spike drinks. It won’t change everything — generic manufacturers may not opt to change their formulas, and many of the substances used in roofie attacks are manufactured illegally — but even small victories are worth celebrating.

Still, all the good intentions in the world are no substitute for vigilance. The people perpetrating these crimes are always adapting. And we must adapt right along with them.

The recovery process

Being drugged can be traumatizing. Spiking a drink, like any other form of abuse, is about asserting power and control over another person. It’s a violation of your bodily autonomy and trust. That means that however it happened, you can expect to feel a wide range of complicated emotions.

“Being roofied is an unexpected and destabilizing occurrence,” Dr. Albers empathizes. “So, it’s common to feel shame, paranoia, rage, embarrassment, depression and anxiety after the fact. And some survivors develop a type of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) called rape trauma syndrome.”

There’s another common side effect that’s equally damaging: Survivors blaming themselves for what happened.

“These incidents happen to more people than we realize,” Dr. Albers concedes. “The predators who do this are very skilled and it all happens extremely fast. Many people mistake what happened to them for an alcohol overdose and never even consider that someone else may be at fault. All this to say, we shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves.”

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.

“If we were all more aware of roofies, we might be better able to spot or prevent attacks,” she says. “And we might also be able to reduce some of those feelings of self-blame. Hearing other people’s stories offers a different narrative — another way of understanding what happened and why.”

Of course, your story is yours. And you aren’t obligated to share it with anyone. If you want to talk confidentially about what happened, Dr. Albers recommends contacting the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). It’s the same organization that runs the National Sexual Assault Hotline.

Therapy can also be an important part of the healing process. 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.

The bottom line?

You have the right to decide what substances you put in your body. 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.

You can take your freedom back by responding on your terms, on your timeline and in your way. Your experience is valid and so are your emotions. 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. You don’t have to be alone in this. And it’s always OK to ask for help.