The anxiety surrounding the use of “date rape” drugs, otherwise known as “roofies,” is an issue that many people have worried about at some point in their lives, especially those who go to clubs, parties, or raves often. The premise of the drugs is to make a person more vulnerable or less aware of their surroundings so that they cannot consent to or remember sexual activity.
Unfortunately, drugs like Rohypnol (Roofies) have been used to commit sexual assault crimes for years, including instances where a person has ingested the drug voluntarily and then been confused or assaulted.
It’s important to know that date rape can happen with anyone and can occur with anyone, regardless of whether they are a stranger or someone you know.
Today, let’s dive into the drugs more commonly known as roofies and the most important things you should know about them.
Here’s what you need to know:
What are Roofies?
Roofies are drugs designed to make you lose consciousness and not remember what occurred while under their influence. The most popular is Rohypnol, but a few other drugs can be used to commit the same crime in Illinois and the rest of the country.
Rohypnol is a tranquilizer that can cause people to pass out or not remember what occurred while under the influence. It is considered a “date rape” drug because it is known to cause blackouts and confusion.
The drug is a tasteless white, odorless tablet often dissolved in a drink for the victim to consume unknowingly. It can have a dissolvable capsule, an even easier way to slip the drug into someone without knowing.
How Roofies Work
Roofies work in a few different ways to cause severe effects such as loss of consciousness, confusion, and partial amnesia. The drugs are often slipped into a drink, hoping that the victim unknowingly consumes it. Still, they can also be put into any victim’s body cavities or even injected into their system.
Even when the drug is taken on purpose, there can still be serious side effects due to the drug’s potency. Most people who have taken roofies have found that their pulse rate and blood pressure fluctuate for up to 72 hours after taking the drug.
What are the Symptoms Of Being Roofied
The main symptom of being roofied is feeling groggy and confused without knowing why. You may also have a very low tolerance for pain, have difficulty concentrating, and feel nauseous. While you may feel groggy, you may also have trouble sleeping. You may also have a tough time concentrating and feel nauseous.
You may also have:
- Extreme anxiety
- Blacking out
- Loss of consciousness
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Blurred vision
- Severe headache
- Memory gaps
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
Many of these symptoms can also be associated with many other drugs, so it’s essential to seek medical attention immediately if you suspect you may have been roofied.
Even if you’re taking the drug voluntarily, you should be aware that it’s very easy to slip it into your drink. To protect yourself, you should make sure that you only drink from sealed containers in front of you and don’t leave your drink unattended.
If you’re going to use the drug, you should avoid taking it with alcohol because it can cause you to blackout for longer periods.
The Prevalence of Roofies
The prevalence of roofies is alarming and makes it difficult to know what to do if you suspect that you have been drugged. Since the 1930s, this drug has been used as a sedative and was used in the Soviet Union on political dissenters to make them “disappear.”
Over the past 30 years, cases of the drug being used for date rape have risen significantly. There are many cases where the victims were under the age of consent, but there have also been cases where adults have been drugged with the drug.
Signs to Look Out for
Roofies are used by someone who is trying to commit sexual assault. Sometimes, the person giving the drugs to the victim is the person they are going to sleep with, but more often, it is someone trying to immobilize them and then sexually assault them.
It is tough to prove that you were drugged if the person who drugged you did it in front of other people. In most cases, an individual is trying to commit this crime, especially if they know the person they are drugging.
If you have been drugged, try your best to remember what happened and get medical attention immediately if you believe that you have been sexually assaulted.
The Difference Between Alcohol and Roofies
It is incredibly hard to differentiate between alcohol and roofies and how roofies are used. If you wake up and don’t remember what happened the night before, it can be difficult to determine.
The main difference is that alcohol will make you drowsy and tired, whereas roofies will make you more alert, but you may also have amnesia. You may have a hard time concentrating and be very confused about the night before.
You may also act very differently from those you have known your entire life, so it’s important to be careful and make sure you don’t allow someone to slip a drug into your drink without knowing.
What to Do in Case You’re Roofied?
It can be incredibly hard to prove that you were drugged, as we mentioned earlier. You may not have noticed it in your drink or unknowingly ingested the drug. Even if you’re with a group of people when you ingest the drug, it can be hard to prove that it was slipped into your drink.
If you wake up the following day and don’t remember what happened the night before, you should try to take the next steps:
You should try to piece together what happened the evening before. It can be challenging to remember, but try to remember everything you can before getting out of bed.
After that, you should visit your doctor or immediately go to the emergency room. They can test your blood for the drug and often find trace amounts in your urine. There may still be drug traces in you if you can get to a hospital within 72 hours of taking the drug.
Lastly, you should contact the police. Even if you cannot prove that you were drugged and drugged with roofies, it is still essential for you to report the crime. The police will likely ask you many questions about what happened if you contact them, but honesty is necessary.
You may feel embarrassed to report that you woke up confused the following day, but it’s important to remember that even if the drug didn’t make you unconscious, the drug still has the power to make you blackout.
The Bottom Line
There are a few ways to protect yourself from getting roofied, which is the most important thing you can do for yourself. The first way is to be very careful about where you are drinking.
Roofies are most likely to be used in dark environments or in environments that are high in drug use. It is important to drink in moderation in a well-lit environment with people that you trust. It is also essential to leave your drink unattended for a very short time. Remember to stay aware of your surroundings and keep your drink with you. Knowing the signs is just half of it. You must also know how to protect yourself and others.