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Trigger Warning: This article addresses the topic of being roofied, which involves the involuntary administration of substances without consent, and includes discussions about sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised

Roofied Meaning

What Are Roofies?

“Roofies” most commonly refers to a drug called Rohypnol. It is also a term to refer to substances that are slipped into people’s drinks without them knowing.

Rohypnol, or Flunitrazepam, is a central nervous system depressant that belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. It is sometimes used for muscle relaxation or as an anesthetic.

However, in average conversation, “roofies” meaning is usually any date-rape drug that is used to target victims for sexual violence.

Most often, people refer to being roofied when it occurs in the form of drink spiking.

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What Is the Meaning of “Being Roofied” or “Roofieing”?

‘Being roofied’ is a phrase meaning someone unknowingly took drugs before being sexually assaulted or raped.

The word ‘roofied’ is short for ‘roofie,’ the slang term used for the CNS depressant drug Rohypnol. However, roofies are just one type of the many drug used to perpetrate sexual crimes, such as date rape.

 

What is Date Rape?

Date rape is sexual assault during a social situation like a date or party. It can happen when someone is drugged with substances like roofies (Rohypnol) or alcohol to make them unable to resist.

The attacker may also use force, threats, or take advantage of the victim’s impaired state to commit the assault.

 

What Are Other Names for Roofied?

Other commonly used names for Rohypnol include roche, ruffied, ruffles, and forget-me drug.

 

What Is in Roofies?

“Roofies” contain Rohypnol or other common date-rape drugs such as gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) or ketamine.

GHB is also known as “liquid x.” It is often misused for its ability to increase suggestibility and passivity.

These effects can make it more difficult for victims to escape dangerous situations.

GHB roofies can also cause amnesia, according to the DEA.

 

What is Rohypnol?

Rohypnols, also known as “roofies,” are powerful sedatives that belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines.

It is similar to medications like Valium or Xanax but much stronger.

Rohypnol is illegal in the United States because of its addictive potential.

However, some countries still use it for treating conditions like insomnia, or as an anesthetic for certain procedures.

Rohypnol is often associated with drug-facilitated sexual assault because it is difficult to spot, and it can cause extreme drowsiness, confusion, and memory loss.

Roofied Graphics 02 Common Date Rape Drugs Inline Image

How Do Roofies Work?

Rohypnol causes extreme drowsiness, blackouts, reduced inhibitions, impaired judgment, and overall debilitation that can make a person unaware and unresisting to sexual assault.

In high doses, a person can become unconscious and may not remember what happened to them.

 

What Are Roofied Drinks?

A roofied drink occurs when a drug has been slipped into a person’s drink without them knowing it.

Rohypnol is tasteless and odorless, which makes it very difficult to detect.

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.

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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What Are Roofies Used For?

Roofies are often abused to target victims of sexual assault, which is why it is known as a “date-rape drug.”

Other people abuse Rohypnol as a way to get “high” or combine it with alcohol to become highly intoxicated, which can be very dangerous.

Roofies and Sexual Assault

What Does Roofied Mean Sexually?

Unfortunately, roofies are commonly used to make victims weaker to sexual assault.

The perpetrator will slip a drug into a person’s drink without them knowing to cause symptoms like extreme drowsiness, unconsciousness, and loss of memory so that they can debilitate them and avoid any consequences of their actions.

 

What Is a Roofie Attack?

A roofie attack is when a perpetrator spikes a drink of an intended victim in order to take advantage of them.

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What Happens When You Get Roofied?

When a person gets roofied, they can become dizzy, nauseous, unconscious, and experience a loss in memory, along with many other symptoms.

When a person gets roofied, they may feel extremely drunk and “blackout,” where they temporarily lose memory or consciousness.

 

Is Spiking a Form of Sexual Assault?

Drink spiking a person to sexually assault or rape them is also known as alcohol or drug-facilitated sexual assault.

If you have ever been sexually assaulted and are looking for help or support, you can call the national sexual assault hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

 

How to Avoid Being Roofied

Being roofied is never the victim’s fault, but there are signs and symptoms to watch out for to help keep you and the people around you safe.

One way to prevent being roofied is by keeping your drink with you at all times when you are out and not accepting drinks from strangers.

It is also important to go out with people you trust and ensure everyone looks out for each other.

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If someone seems extremely intoxicated, especially if they have only had a couple of drinks, make sure to get them somewhere safe and get help if they need it.

It can be helpful to watch for signs of being roofied like loss of consciousness, dizziness, difficulty moving, or nausea and vomiting.

Signs That Someone Was Roofied

How Common Is Getting Roofied?

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. 

Drink spiking is commonly seen among college students in university party settings, raves, and clubs.

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What Does a Roofied Drink Look Like?

It can be difficult to tell when someone has slipped a drug into your drink because roofies are often tasteless, odorless, and colorless.

However, sometimes, a roofied drink may have excessive fizziness in it or look a little cloudy.

Always holding your drink or keeping it close to you and covered can help reduce the risk of a drug getting slipped into your drink.

 

How Long Does It Take To Get Roofied?

When a person is roofied, the effects commonly begin within 10 to 20 minutes.

It is also important to note that a substance can be slipped into a drink almost instantly, especially if it is in powder form.

This is why it is so essential to pay close attention to drinks and to never let a stranger have access to the drink for even short periods of time.

 

What Do Roofied Drinks Taste Like?

Roofies usually don’t have a taste, which can make it difficult to tell if a drug may have slipped into your drink.

Sometimes, a bitter or salty taste to your drink can be a sign that someone has added something to your drink without your consent.

 

What to Do if Someone Is Roofied?

Follow these steps if you suspect someone around you has been roofied:

  1. Seek Immediate Medical Help

    Call 911 or Emergency Services:
    If you suspect someone has been roofied, call emergency services immediately. These drugs can be dangerous and may cause serious health issues, including respiratory problems, unconsciousness, or even death.
  2. Keep the Person Safe

    Stay with Them:
    Do not leave the person alone. They may be confused, disoriented, or unable to make decisions for themselves.

    Ensure Their Safety: Move them to a safe, quiet place away from potential harm or further exposure to the perpetrator.

    Monitor Their Condition: Watch for signs of distress such as difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, or seizures. Be ready to provide details to the emergency responders.

  3. Avoid Letting Them Drink or Eat

    Do Not Let Them Consume Anything: Drinking or eating could potentially worsen the effects of the drug or interfere with treatment.
  4. Gather Evidence (If Possible)

    Save Any Leftover Drink: If possible, save the drink or container that might have been spiked. This can be helpful for medical professionals and law enforcement in identifying the substance used.

    Avoid Cleaning Up: Try not to clean or dispose of anything that might be evidence until the authorities arrive.

  5. Report the Incident

    Inform Law Enforcement: Reporting the incident to the police is crucial, both for the safety of the victim and to potentially prevent future incidents. Provide as much information as possible.
  6. Support the Victim

    Offer Emotional Support: Being drugged can be a traumatic experience. Offer emotional support and encourage them to talk to a counselor or mental health professional after the incident.

    Follow Up: Continue to check on the person’s well-being in the days following the incident. They may need further support or assistance.

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.

If you have been sexually assaulted, it is also important to seek medical help so you can get care and also take exams if you do want to report the assault. You can bring them to the emergency room or call 911.

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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.

Roofied Symptoms

Roofied symptoms often include sensations such as sudden dizziness, confusion, nausea, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness.

Once taken, roofie drugs can cause effects that put someone in danger very quickly.

Noticing roofied symptoms right away can save lives and help protect against sexual assault and other drug-related crimes.

 

What Are the Symptoms of Being Roofied?

Common signs and symptoms of being roofied from date drugs can include:

  • Lowered inhibitions
  • Drowsiness
  • Brain fog
  • Decreased reaction time
  • Disorientation
  • Impaired mental functioning and judgment
  • Confusion
  • Aggression
  • Loss of coordination
  • Weakness
  • Headache
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Respiratory depression
Roofied Graphics 08 Symptoms Of Being Roofied Inline Image

What Does Being Roofied Feel Like?

When a person is roofied, they may think they are extremely drunk at first or feel very confused, drowsy, and dizzy. They can have a hard time moving and feel disoriented or “foggy.”

Being roofied can make a person really sick, especially when they are given a drug in combination with alcohol, or they are taking prescription drugs already.

Often, a person who has been roofied doesn’t remember what happened to them.

 

How You Feel the Day After Being Spiked?

The day after being spiked, a person may feel very confused, nauseous, drowsy, and anxious.

Some people describe it as feeling like a severe hangover.

It can feel terrifying to not know whether or not your drink was drugged. You may not know what to do, who to talk to, or how to get help.

You may feel embarrassed that you let yourself get into that situation, or that you should brush off the experience since you do not have a firm memory of what happened. However, it is crucial that you advocate for yourself and reach out for help.

It is not your fault, and there are people ready to help you.

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Signs of Shame

Do Roofies Make You Throw Up?

Roofies can cause symptoms of nausea and vomiting.

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.

 

How Long Do Side Effects of Being Roofied Last?

Roofies typically take around 20 minutes to kick in, and side effects can last up to 12 hours.

Roofies affect each person differently, especially if they have alcohol or other drugs in their system. 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.

 

Can Roofies Cause Memory Loss?

Yes, date drugs like Rohypnol and GHB can cause short-term memory loss, so a person may not remember things that happened during the time that they were unknowingly under the influence.

How to Test if You Were Roofied

Can You Test for Roofies?

Urine tests and hair tests may be done to detect drugs like GHB or Rohypnol.

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A date rape panel drug test can test for substances like GHB, ketamine, and different benzodiazepines like Rohypnol.

These kinds of tests may also detect the presence of these substances even with the presence of alcohol.

 

How Long After Being Roofied Can You Test?

Different drugs vary on how long they can be detected in urine.

It can also depend on whether you are doing a urine, blood, or hair test.

For example, GHB may be detected for up to 10 hours after ingestion, while Rohypnol may be detected for up to 60 hours after being ingested.

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.

 

Do Roofies Show Up on Blood Tests?

Rohypnol can be detected in blood for up to 24 hours.

Other benzodiazepines and date rape drugs can also show up on a blood test panel.

 

Do I Need to Go to Hospital if I Think I’ve Been Spiked?

If you think you or a friend has been spiked, it is important to call the police or go to the hospital.

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.

Going to a hospital can help ensure a person gets proper care and monitoring to make sure they are safe.

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Long-Term Effects of Being Roofied

Can You Die From Being Roofied?

Yes, it is possible to overdose from a roofied drink.

Benzodiazepines are commonly used drug to spike people’s drinks. They pose a high risk of overdose, which can be fatal.

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 can also cause a person to become incapacitated, which can put them in very dangerous situations.

This is one of the reasons why it is so important to get help from someone you trust and to get to a safe space if you have been roofied. If you have been roofied, you should have someone trustworthy with you throughout the night to make sure you are okay.

 

Is Being Spiked Traumatic?

Yes. Being spiked can be extremely scary and traumatic.

When a person is sexually assaulted, it can impact their whole life, including their mental health, physical health, and well-being.

If a person has been sexually assaulted after being spiked, they may experience depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), flashbacks, or suicidal thoughts.

If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out for help. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or call 911.

If you have been roofied, it is important to remember that it is not your fault. Talk to someone, whether it is a friend, family member, healthcare provider, therapist, or anyone else you trust.

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How to Recover From Being Roofied

How Long Does a Roofie Stay In Your System?

The length of time a roofie can stay in y our system depends on the type of drug used to spike the drink.

For example, Rohypnol has a half-life of 15-35 hours, while GHB has a half-life of around 30-50 minutes.

The half-life of a drug refers to the amount of time it takes for the active substance of a drug in your body to reduce by half.

The amount of time a roofie stays in your system can also depend on a variety of other factors, such as a person’s size, age, and metabolism.

 

How to Treat Being Roofied?

If someone has been roofied, they should get medical care to be monitored to make sure they are okay.

Treatment for being roofied will look different for every victim. 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.

However, to be fully treated for being roofied, the person who was attacked will need support to help them heal emotionally from the trauma of the experience. This can be done through therapy, support groups, and other mental health treatments.

Being roofied can leave the victim with feelings of shame, paranoia, self-blame, depression, and anxiety. These symptoms can last long after the physical effects of the drink wear off and make it difficult to function in their daily life.

Mental health treatment can help victims to feel safe, heard, empowered, and healed as they recover from the experience of being roofied.

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How Long Does It Take To Recover From Being Roofied?

Recovering from the physical drug effects of being roofied often takes about a day, but recovering emotionally and mentally may take many years.

The strongest physical effects are usually felt within the first 6 hours and typically wear off around 12 hours after ingestion.

The mental and emotional fallout from being attacked can last for years after the event, especially if it is not addressed with the help of a professional.

If you have been roofied, it is important to get medical care and to have someone to help monitor you as the drugs leave your system.

Trying to ignore the experience or pretend it didn’t happen can make the symptoms much worse and last longer.

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

FAQ

You Have Questions, We Have Answers.

Our goal is to provide the most helpful information. Please reach out to us if you have any additional questions. We are here to help in any way we can.

Women are not the only targets of drink spiking.

Anyone can be vulnerable to roofies, no matter their gender, size, or alcohol tolerance.

Sometimes, in spiked drinks, ice will not float.

However, this is not a reliable way to tell whether your drink has spiked.

If you suspect that your drink has been spiked, let someone know immediately and get somewhere safe with people you trust. It is also important to notify workers or managers if you are in a club or bar so that they can take proper action.

Sometimes, a person who has been roofied may be extremely drunk.

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.

Another major effect of being roofied is loss of memory. Sometimes, people who engage in excessive binge drinking may “blackout” and not remember certain things that happened throughout the night the next day.

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.

The only sure way to tell if you have been roofied is by seeking medical help and getting tested for any drugs in your system.

Roofies are not approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States.

The drug most commonly used in roofies, Rohypnol, is illegal in the United States and is classified as a Schedule IV substance under the Controlled Substances Act.

Yes, some people describe the feeling after being roofied as an extreme hangover.

They might feel extremely ill and have a hard time remembering what happened to them.

Often mixed with alcohol, the drugs most commonly used in sexual assault include:

  • Rohypnol
  • Gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB)
  • Gamma butyrolactone (GBL)
  • Ketamine, also known as special K
  • Klonopin
  • Xanax
  • Valium

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.

Some studies suggest that around 30% of sexual assault victims think they were drugged, either by alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both.

The spelling for this date drug is usually written as “roofied.” Sometimes it is written as “ruffied.”

Additionally, the term “roofie” is sometimes spelled as “roofy.”

The most commonly known date rape drug is called Rohypnol, often referred to as “roofies.”

Other drugs used for similar purposes include GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and ketamine.

These substances are sometimes used to incapacitate a victim, making them vulnerable to sexual assault.

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Being roofied is never your fault. Learn the signs and symptoms to know how to help someone who has been roofied. Sandstone Care supports teens and young adults with mental health and substance use disorders.

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