When you are having fun at a party and you are around people you know, there are less chances of anticipating an abuse that can make dreams turn into nightmare. Sadly, a lot of people (especially women) get roofied and it doesn’t always have to be in parties. Hence, to be on the safe side, one should know how to recover from being roofied.
So, how do you help yourself if you believe someone has spiked your drink? Is there a way you can avoid this from happening in the first place?
If you still get roofied, what should you do to get over it, mentally and physically? Here you’ll find answers to all these questions so that you can look after yourself.
Table of Contents
Signs that you might be roofied
Before figuring out how to recover from being roofied, it is crucial to know the signs of being roofied.
These are some common signs that might indicate someone has given Rohypnol to you:
- Feeling foggy suddenly
- Memory gaps
- Sedation
- Excessive drunkenness even if you haven’t drunk much alcohol
- Disorientation
- Nausea
- Difficulties staying focused or concentrating
- Feeling paralyzed or the inability to move
- Decreased energy and alertness
- Poor muscle control
Next-day symptoms of being roofied
The unfortunate part of being roofied is that you may not be able to remember what happened. Studies have proven that these drugs can cause memory problems.
Hence, if you doubt you’ve been roofied it is crucial to know how you will feel the day after. These are some common side effects that you may notice the next day:
- Vomiting or nausea
- Tingling sensation
- Headache and muscle pain
- Drowsiness
- Photosensitivity
- Inability to recall recent events (partially or completely)
- Restlessness
- Confusion
So, we may conclude that the symptoms and signs of being roofied mimic the side effects of having too much liquor, especially if mixed with cannabis.
Hence, at first glance, it can be difficult for someone else to decipher if you have taken alcohol or drugs. As the effects of the drugs are powerful, most people don’t realize what’s going on until the next day.
What to do after being roofied?
If you suspect someone has given some drug to you, these are the steps you should follow:
Ask someone who was with you to help you recall the events
When you cannot remember anything vividly, you can take the help of someone who was with you. This has to be a person you can trust – perhaps the friend with whom you went to the party or the family member who took you home. These people can throw some light into the events of the night. You may end up remembering certain things as they narrate what they saw.
Get medical help at the earliest
Getting roofied can have adverse effects on your body and thus, you must take immediate action. Seeking medical assistance will be necessary to figure out a possible abuse. The drugs commonly used in such cases don’t stay in our system beyond 72 hours.
Hence, if you delay your visit to the emergency room, it will be impossible to prove that you were drugged. So, reach out for help from someone you can trust and visit the nearest healthcare center.
Report the crime
Sipping something into people’s drinks without their consent is a criminal offense and deserves punishment. As roofying a person is prohibited by the law, the victim has the right to take legal action. So, even if you aren’t certain that your drink has been spiked, go ahead with lodging a complaint and let the police do their job.
Don’t urinate or bathe
One of the easiest ways of detecting drugs in your body is by performing a quick urine test. So, you must resist the urge to urinate and even if you do, collect a urine sample for testing.
With many victims, roofying takes place so that the person(s) involved can get away with a physical assault. The effects of the drugs are such that you won’t have any idea about what happened once you passed out. So, it will be better that you do not shower before going to the emergency room.
If you shower and pass urine multiple times, it will become challenging for the medical authorities to detect the presence of drugs like Rohypnol in your body.
Don’t wash the clothes you wore
It is also important that you don’t wash the dress you wore in the past 24 hours. That’s because you might accidentally end up removing traces of the drug from your system.
If you are confused about reporting the incident, you should still keep evidence. You may change your mind later and then the evidence will come in handy.
If you faced physical abuse, the attire will have imprints of the abuser. It can work as evidence against the suspect and help you find them faster.
Drink plenty of water
After the medical examination is done and you are home, keep your body hydrated. Water will flush out all the toxins from your body. It will also get rid of headaches, nausea, body aches, and many other symptoms.
Can being roofied have permanent damage?
While disorientation, drowsiness, and other symptoms will subside soon, there’s one side effect that may remain for days, even months. Yes, we are hinting at the mental trauma that results from being roofied.
In rare cases, Rohypnol can also cause permanent cognitive impairment, particularly if the person had seizures. However, what’s more common in the victims is a deep psychological impact and this can be post-traumatic stress.
This type of disorder can make it hard for the person to focus on work or something else. They may develop an inability to maintain healthy relationships and trust people because of this traumatic experience.
What should one do in such a situation? Scroll down to find out what to do to improve your mental health after being roofied.
How to recover mentally after being roofied?
Nobody imagines being drugged and you might be in a state of shock. You may feel several strong emotions like fear, restlessness, and anxiety, and all these can even lead to sleepless nights. So, you have to find a way to put the past behind you or it’ll keep affecting your professional and personal life.
You can spend time with your pet and family as they will support you no matter what. Instead of sitting at home and blaming yourself for being naïve, it will be nice to go out and meet your close friends.
Do things that make you happy and keep you distracted. It could be anything from watching an animated movie to painting. It will take some time but you must remain optimistic.
The willingness to move on should come from within. Hence, let post-traumatic stress disorder come and go as you allow your body and mind to heal.
Consulting a therapist is effective if you don’t find a way out so seek help. However, be mindful of anti-depressants that the doctor might prescribe and ask them after the side effects that come along.
Tips to save yourself from being roofied
Now that you have understood how to recover from being roofied, it’s natural to wonder if there’s a way you can stop it from happening.
If you have some strategies, you can minimize the chances of finding yourself in a vulnerable phase. Here are some things you should keep in mind:
- When you are going to a party in an unknown place, always take a trusted friend with you
- Don’t leave your circle of friends to interact with an over-friendly stranger
- Always keep your location on and keep elder family members informed about where you are
- Pouring your drink instead of letting someone else do it will be wise and this rule applies irrespective of where and with whom you are
- You should not leave your drink unattended as someone intending to drug you will look for such opportunities
- Keep your drinks close to you even if you have to move around and finish it before you need to use the restroom
How long to recover from being roofied?
How long the symptoms like nausea and headache will need to disappear depends on the dosage of the drug you’ve been given. The stronger the dose, the longer the effects. However, for most people, no symptom remains after 72 hours. So, if you are still facing some issues, communicate your problems to a doctor.
Final thoughts
The aftermath of someone spiking a drink and makes it imperative everyone to know how to recover from being roofied. We have covered everything from signs of being roofied to the process of recovery.
The information can not just help you stay safe but also protect someone else from being roofied. Hence, you should share these tips with your friends and siblings so that they too can become alert and aware.