What to Do If You’ve Been Roofied (Plus Signs That Your Drink Was Spiked)

Steps to take after you’ve been drugged for a healthy recovery

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: March 18, 2023 References

Roofie Recovery

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Signs You’ve Been Roofied

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What to Do If Your Drink Is Spiked

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Helping Someone Else

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Date Rape Prevention

When you’re partying with friends and having a good time, the last thing you want to worry about is someone slipping something into your drink. But unfortunately, getting roofied does happen, and the effects can be pretty scary. If you believe that your drink has been spiked or you’re pretty sure someone slipped you something, take a deep breath: we’ve got you covered. We’ll tell you exactly what to do and how to recover physically and mentally.

Things You Should Know

If you believe you’ve been roofied, get medical attention and report it to the authorities.
Don’t wash the clothes that you wore, and don’t shower just yet. The police can use your clothing and swabs from your body as evidence.
Get a drug test at a hospital to look for evidence of date rape drugs in your system.
Ask friends or acquaintances you were with if they remember anything from the night before.

Section 1 of 5:

What to Do After You’ve Been Roofied

1
Get medical attention as soon as possible. Rohypnol is the most common drug that’s used to roofie people, and it only stays in your system for 12 to 72 hours. If you think you’ve been roofied, head to the emergency room and let the doctors know.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
Largest anti-sexual assault organization in the US providing support and advocacy for survivors
Go to source}
- While Rohypnol is common, other drugs like ketamine and GHB are also sometimes used as date rape drugs. These drugs stay in the body for around the same amount of time.
- Most date rape drugs wear off after 6 to 12 hours. However, even after the drugs have worn off, you may still experience side effects like dizziness, nausea, or mood swings.
2
Contact emergency services. Spiking someone’s drink, or roofying them, is against the law. If you believe you were roofied or you know that someone slipped something into your drink, call emergency services to report the crime.^{[2]
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3
Save the clothes you wore, and don’t shower yet. Unfortunately, being roofied often goes hand in hand with sexual assault. If you can’t remember anything from the night before or you believe you were sexually assaulted, keep the clothes that you wore either on your person or in a bag, and don’t shower just yet. We know this can be scary, but the police may want to take swabs or use your clothing as evidence of the crime.^{[3]
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- It’s up to you whether or not you’d like to report sexual assault or being roofied. Even if you don’t end up reporting it, it’s a good idea to keep evidence on file, just in case you change your mind later on.
4
Request a drug test and a rape kit. At the hospital, tell the staff directly that you believe you have been roofied and/or sexually assaulted. They will test your blood, urine, or hair for evidence of drugs, and they can also do a rape kit to test for sexual assault.^{[4]
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Trustworthy Source
US Office on Women's Health
U.S. government agency providing resources for women's health
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- The hospital staff can also provide you with mental health resources, like a counselor or a therapist, if you need to talk to someone.
5
Ask anyone who was with you that night to confirm details or events. Maybe a friend of yours noticed you acting strange, or maybe an acquaintance saw you leave a party with someone else. Reach out to the people you were with the night before to see if anyone can let you know what happened.^{[5]
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Lean on your friends and family. Getting roofied is very scary, and you’re likely feeling anxious, upset, or even angry right now. Call a trusted loved one and let them know what happened so they can support you through this trying time.^{[6]
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- After being roofied and/or sexually assaulted, many people develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health issues. As you work on recovering physically, consider talking to a mental health professional in the future so you can express your feelings and work through any trauma.

Section 2 of 5:

Signs You’ve Been Roofied

1
Feeling extremely drunk, even after little or no alcohol Drugs that are used to roofie people can often mimic the symptoms of being blackout drunk. You might feel like you’ve had 12 drinks even after only 1 small cocktail. This is the most obvious sign that your drink has been spiked.^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
Largest anti-sexual assault organization in the US providing support and advocacy for survivors
Go to source}
2
Difficulty breathing Date rape drugs can make your heart beat quickly, which can make it harder to breathe. You might find that you’re taking short, shallow breaths, or that you’re having trouble catching your breath.^{[8]
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Trustworthy Source
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
Largest anti-sexual assault organization in the US providing support and advocacy for survivors
Go to source}
3
Dizziness, confusion, or disorientation Directly after being roofied, you might get confused about where you are or who you’re with. Being roofied can also make you feel dizzy, which can make it hard to walk straight.^{[9]
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Trustworthy Source
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
Largest anti-sexual assault organization in the US providing support and advocacy for survivors
Go to source}
4
Nausea, vomiting, or headaches Drugs like these can cause gastrointestinal distress both directly after taking them and the day after. You might also get a headache, especially after waking up the next day.^{[10]
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Inability to walk or speak normally Since these drugs mimic the effects of being severely drunk, you may start slurring your words or stumbling. This is because you’re losing your cognition and the ability to function normally.^{[11]
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Memory loss One of the key indicators of being roofied is not being able to remember what happened the night before. If you wake up and have large blank spaces in your memory, then it’s likely that you’ve been roofied.^{[12]
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Section 3 of 5:

What to Do If Your Drink Is Spiked

1
Get somewhere safe as soon as possible. Don’t go anywhere alone, and don’t try to leave unless you believe you’re in severe danger. Stay with a group of trusted people if you start to feel dizzy, weak, or like you might faint.^{[13]
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Tell a trusted friend what’s happening. Pull a friend aside and quickly let them know that you believe your drink has been spiked. Ask them not to leave you alone and to stay with you until you feel better.^{[14]
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Contact emergency services if you feel faint or like you might pass out. Date rape drugs can make you lose consciousness, which can be dangerous. If you start feeling faint, either call emergency services yourself or ask a friend to.^{[15]
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Section 4 of 5:

Helping Someone Else

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Stay with them at all times. Someone who has ingested date rape drugs may not be able to speak, walk, or function on their own. If you believe your friend (or even a stranger) has been roofied, stick by their side at all times.^{[16]
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Notify the management or anyone in charge. If you’re at a bar or a club, tell the bartender or the bouncer that you think someone has been roofied. They can call emergency services or keep them in a safe place.^{[17]
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Keep them awake, and call emergency services if they pass out. Try to talk to them and keep them conscious as much as you can. If they lose consciousness, call emergency services for medical help.^{[18]
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Get them home safely. Never let someone who has been roofied leave on their own or with a stranger. Either take them home safely, or make sure they get to a hospital.^{[19]
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Section 5 of 5:

Date Rape Prevention

1
Don’t accept open drinks from strangers. Even if a drink from a stranger looks fine, it could be spiked with something. When you’re out at a club or at a party, always get your own drinks, and don’t accept them from anyone else.^{[20]
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Trustworthy Source
Go Ask Alice
Medical advice site with content written by health promotion specialists affiliated with Columbia University
Go to source}
- While strangers can target you for date rape, unfortunately, your friends or acquaintances can do it, too. It’s always safest to buy or grab your own drink than accept one from someone else.
2
Keep your drink with you at all times. An unattended drink can get something slipped into it very easily. Always take your drink with you, even when you go to the bathroom, to make sure nothing happens to it.^{[21]
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Trustworthy Source
Go Ask Alice
Medical advice site with content written by health promotion specialists affiliated with Columbia University
Go to source}
3
Stop drinking anything that tastes or smells strange. Some date rape drugs can have a slightly salty smell or taste. If you sip your drink and it looks, tastes, or smells strange, ditch it right away.^{[22]
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Trustworthy Source
US Office on Women's Health
U.S. government agency providing resources for women's health
Go to source}
4
Go out with trusted friends. Keep yourself safe while partying by sticking with your close friends. Keep an eye on each other and watch out for each other while you’re all out and about.^{[23]
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