This means the onset of effects on the body can appear within 20 minutes of being ingested and can last for over six hours. Some of the residual effects, such as memory loss and confusion, can last 12 hours or more after administration. Roofies have become so synonymous with rape that the act of drugging someone’s drink with any substance is collectively called “roofying”. Other substances that are often used in date rape offenses include Ketamine (K, Special K) and Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), as they have similar effects to roofies.
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. Since then, the concept of roofieing has come to refer to several drugs used for this same purpose. Keeping your body and clothes roofied meaning just as they were when you woke up allows a healthcare provider to find evidence of a sexual assault and roofies in your system.
Related Slang
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. 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. If you have been the victim of rape or sexual assault, then speak to someone today.
Sometimes people will used the term “spiked” to refer to drinks that have been tampered with, but this doesn’t always refer to roofies. However, in average conversation, “roofies” meaning is usually any date-rape drug that is used to target victims for sexual violence. Now that you know what roofied means in slang, you’re all set to spot it in a convo or post and know exactly what vibe is being thrown your way. It’s one of those words that threads the line between serious and silly, so using it with care (and a dash of humor) is key. One of the ways “roofied” stays relevant is through hilarious internet content. People love to exaggerate how tired or out-of-it they feel by saying they got “roofied” by a long Zoom call, early morning meetings, or even just a salad that’s surprisingly bitter.
Word History and Origins
Once taken, roofie drugs can cause effects that put someone in danger very quickly. Roofied symptoms often include sensations such as sudden dizziness, confusion, nausea, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness. 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. Roofies usually don’t have a taste, which can make it difficult to tell if a drug may have slipped into your drink. 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. It is also important to note that a substance can be slipped into a drink almost instantly, especially if it is in powder form.
‘Being roofied’ means someone was unknowingly given drugs before being sexually assaulted or raped. Create a buddy system to prevent one person from getting separated from the group and, if necessary, take your drink to the bathroom with you. If you are experiencing symptoms of being roofied and suspect someone has slipped you an illicit drug, call 911 immediately. Don’t drive, and don’t leave the area you’re at unless you’re in danger. Try to stay around as many people as possible until help arrives, and drink as much water as you can to help flush the drug from your system.
Talk to someone, whether it is a friend, family member, healthcare provider, therapist, or anyone else you trust. Benzodiazepines are commonly used drug to spike people’s drinks. 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. 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.
Physical and Cognitive Effects
With any luck, this practice will expand to include more of the substances commonly used to spike drinks. While these symptoms closely resemble the effects of a hangover from alcohol, many victims do not identify that they have been raped. Consider reaching out to a trusted friend, healthcare provider, or counselor for support. If there’s any chance you were assaulted, you can contact local resources for help, including sexual assault hotlines or medical professionals. Unfortunately, these drugs can result in permanent cognitive impairment in some cases, particularly if seizures occur. However, it’s more common for victims to experience psychological issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
- 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.
- And you have the right to choose who — if anyone — you have sexual contact with and under what circumstances.
- The more you drink, the faster you’ll be able to dilute and flush the drug from your system.
- The strongest physical effects are usually felt within the first 6 hours and typically wear off around 12 hours after ingestion.
- Access State-Specific Provider Directories for detailed information on locating licensed service providers and recovery residences in your area.
- Some people may feel nauseated, and nearly everyone who’s given these drugs experiences lapses in memory.
It can be helpful to watch for signs of being roofied like loss of consciousness, dizziness, difficulty moving, or nausea and vomiting. 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. 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. 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.
- The symptoms of being roofied include loss of inhibition, difficulty moving and speaking, confusion, drowsiness, and falling asleep.
- In blood, it can be found for about a day, and in urine for a few days.
- The perpetrator typically places the drug in the victim’s drink with the intention of raping her once she passes out.
- However, roofies are potent drugs that cause a type of memory loss called anterograde amnesia.
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. Roofies cause extreme drowsiness, blackouts, reduced inhibitions, and impaired judgment that can make a person unaware and unresisting to sexual assault. If you’re not sure whether you were sexually assaulted, a medical examination can help determine if that occurred.
The Signs of Being ‘Roofied’ That Everyone Should Know
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. The mental and physical health consequences of being roofied can be serious. By taking the above preventative measures and knowing the signs, you can better protect yourself.
Amnesia
GHB has a similar effect to Rohypnol but without such extreme muscle paralysis and amnesia. Still, you’re not likely to remember what happened while under the drug’s effect. If you’re drunk or passed out, you can’t consent to sexual activity. Without consent, the activity is illegal, whether you drank alcohol, took drugs, or both.
In blood, it can be found for about a day, and in urine for a few days. 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.
Someone who has been roofied will feel extremely intoxicated very quickly. They may suddenly feel more amorous and sexual and respond emotionally to others in ways that are not characteristic of them. In the sections that follow, you’ll find important safety information that will help you better protect yourself from the dangers of being roofied. We’ll cover the signs of being roofied, its prevalence, what to do if you suspect you’ve been a victim, and other roofie prevention tips and considerations. When roofie is used as a verb it’s referring to the drugging of the victim. When someone roofies a person, he or she places the drug in the person’s drink (usually a woman) when she is not looking or in the bathroom.
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. The sedative effects of Rohypnol are up to 10 times stronger than Valium.