Are you familiar with the term “being roofied”? By now, most people understand being roofied to mean being drugged without your consent with Rohypnol, also known as the date rape drug. Rohypnol is a brand name for flunitrazepam, which is a benzodiazepine used for insomnia. Currently, Rohypnol is not approved by the FDA in the United States.
Roofies affect the central nervous system, making you feel relaxed and sleepy. The effects of Rohypnol should come as no surprise, considering it is technically a sleeping pill. It is common to wake up with no memory of what previously happened. Below are some common signs you could have been roofied.
1. Excessively Drunk
You have only ordered one drink, or maybe just a soft drink, and suddenly feel like you are so drunk that you are losing control. Slurring your words as though you have been drinking too much is typical. It is possible to become so disoriented that you may need help before you lose consciousness.
2. Sudden Confusion
You were fine when you arrived at your destination but suddenly had trouble thinking and speaking clearly. You may have had something to drink but are definitely not drunk. Feeling disoriented and unable to communicate clearly or understand the people around you is a sign of something amiss. You may realize something is wrong, but are confused and unable to relay the problem to someone else.
3. Extreme Fatigue
You are too exhausted to motor on your own and are on the verge of collapse. You will likely need help getting up and walking. You may even lose the ability to move on and suffer from temporary paralysis. You have an overwhelming desire to lay down and go to sleep.
4. Memory Loss
Waking up without remembering what happened and how you got there is not a good sign. If you are sure that you did not have too much to drink, yet you have blank spaces of time in your memory, you may have been drugged. Nearly everyone who has reported being roofied has trouble remembering what happened before waking up.
5. Severe Hangover
After a night out, you wake up with the worst hangover you could imagine. You are likely to experience severe gastrointestinal distress, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and a splitting headache. Being very sore with aching muscles is also familiar with being roofied.
Long Term Issues
Rohypnol is a benzodiazepine and can be dangerous in large amounts or mixed with other drugs such as alcohol, a depressant on the nervous system. In addition to the physical effects of being drugged, the risk of developing depression or PTSD is high, especially if the victim was sexually assaulted.
If you suspect that you have been roofied, notify someone you trust and call the authorities to file a report immediately. Drugging someone intentionally without their knowledge is a crime, and you, the victim, are never to blame. For more information, look up “signs of being roofied” online.
