BY AARDE WRITES for WEEKLY VOLCANO 10/31/25 |
Hey Aarde,
I went out a few months ago and had a horrible experience. I haven’t really known what to do or who to share it with. Overall, I’m down to enjoy a few drinks and have a good time, like any other mid-twenty-year-old. But I know my limits and typically stay in control. I don’t like being intoxicated in public, so I’m usually pretty calculated with how much I’m drinking to stay safe.
I went out with a few friends, and we hit up three bars in total, with one drink at each. I don’t remember paying my tab or leaving in general. Later, my friends verified that we’d said goodbye and gotten into our respective cars; apparently, I never left the parking lot. I woke up in my car at 4:00 a.m. with my doors locked. My head was killing me, my pants were unbuttoned, and I had peed myself. I’m afraid I got roofied and just feel really gross about it all. I can’t stop thinking about what could have happened if my doors hadn’t been locked. Honestly, I’m not even sure what I’m asking for. Maybe I just needed to be heard.
Signed,
Shaken Soul
Hey Shaken Soul,
No human is deserving of being poisoned. You are not at fault. Full stop. I am grateful that you felt safe enough to reach out, and I hope that the following information comforts you and offers both you and others resources to stay safe in the future. I commend you for having the courage to speak up and show others they are not alone. It is entirely understandable for you to feel uneasy, disoriented, and frightened. It’s incredibly frustrating to know you operated safely and responsibly, and yet something outside of your control took over.
I don’t want to focus too much on the culprits, but it does need to be said: people who commit these acts of violence and dehumanization by stripping others of their autonomy, awareness, and ability to consent are abhorrent. Their behavior rips through human dignity and should be met with accountability and justice.
Let’s discuss what a “roofie” is. Rohypnol and its counterparts, which are often called “date rape drugs,” are central nervous system depressants belonging to the class of benzodiazepines. Rohypnol is commonly used as a sedative; it’s colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It can cost as little as $5 per dose, is extremely fast-acting (15–20 minutes), can last up to twelve hours (alcohol exaggerates the effects), takes about 72 hours to leave the body, and three to five days to detox fully—not to mention the emotional trauma that victims often struggle with afterward.
When compared to Valium, Rohypnol is ten times stronger in its depressive effects. If you have a few minutes to research “drug-facilitated sexual assaults involving substances like Rohypnol,” make sure you have a few hours to digest the statistics you’ll find. (Spoiler alert: 31.7 percent of male college students admitted they would force a woman into sexual intercourse if they could be assured there would be no consequences, according to Journal of Violence and Gender.)
I can count five people I personally know who were roofied in the last year, including myself. Unfortunately, roofies happen more often than people realize, and it needs to be a bigger conversation. There is strength in numbers: the more open we are, the less shame we feel, and the more we can help others process the effects of this kind of violation.
Now, it can’t always be assumed that the goal is sexual assault. Sometimes, the intent is to use a victim’s biometric face password to access banking information. And as gross as it is to say, sometimes it’s simply for sport—to watch from a distance and laugh at the victim’s disorientation. That’s a special kind of evil, and the universe will deal with them in due time.
At the risk of disgusting you even more, most hospitals won’t test for the drug unless there is physical evidence of sexual assault. They often say that if no criminal act occurred, they cannot test for it. But I think it’s safe to say that many people feel poisoning a nonconsenting person with a potentially deadly drug should be considered a crime in itself.
Thankfully, concerned citizens who’ve experienced both the violation and the hospital dismissal are developing safety tools to reduce the risk of becoming victims in the first place. Xantus offers a wristband that can test a drink in ten seconds and includes a QR code to track hot spots of Rohypnol reports. NightCap is a drink cover that can be worn as a hair tie or wristband; when used, it covers the drink with a hole for a straw, making it difficult to contaminate. There are also straws with built-in testing strips and nail polish that changes color when a drink has been tampered with. When in doubt, throw it out.
If you think you have been drugged, go somewhere public and tell a bartender, security guard, or friend nearby, and always text someone you trust. Note the time and location and ask them to call 911 for you. I say this because, sadly, there’s a one-in-three chance the culprit could be someone you know. Having an outside person aware of the situation is critical to keep everyone accountable for your safety, as you may become unresponsive within minutes.
If you wake up in an unsafe environment and suspect you might have been assaulted, go to a hospital immediately. Preserve evidence: do not urinate, wash yourself, or change your clothes. If you still have the drink you were consuming, bring it with you. Get support. You do not have to go through this alone. There is no shame in seeking help after this kind of violation. There are people who understand what you’re feeling and dedicate their lives to helping others survive it.
For immediate confidential help available 24/7:
RAINN (U.S.): 1-800-656-4673.
