# “Roofied”, but not for sex. A real thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 27, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769 "2014-11-27T16:18:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/1 "2014-11-27T16:18:04Z")
According to [this article](http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/10/what-you-might-not-know-about-getting-roofied.html), there is an outbreak (perhaps just in New York) of young people being slipped “roofies” (or other types of “knockout drops”), but with no attempt being made to sexually assault them (or, indeed, so far as I can make out, rob them, or otherwise violate them), and, seemingly, without any such motivation. Apparently the victims include men as well as women. Is this real (or in any way widespread, as claimed)? Has anybody here otherwise heard of (or even experienced) this? If it is real, what is the motivation? Just _lulz_? ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/2 "2014-11-27T16:27:38Z")
Just want to point out I’ve heard recovering alcoholics tell stories where they originally thought they were being roofied, but on retrospect realized it was probably their alcoholism. I have not heard of this too much, but wasn’t something like this in “The Hangover”? Some people are fucked up – and want to see the effect their antics have on other people. Hell the CIA used to give people LSD - including - apparently - an entire village in France. They also might be using it as a test run for when they do plan on raping someone. Most of this is just guessing, but there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/3 "2014-11-27T17:01:34Z")
Back when I used to work the ER a lot, we’d get folks in stating they’d been drugged. We’d check 'em out, and when indicated, run pretty comprehensive drug testing. 9 times out of 10, all they had in their system was alcohol (plus whatever other drugs they admitted taking on their own.) We’d see a few folks turn up with benzodiazepines (or less often barbiturates or 'luudes) in their system who stated they hadn’t taken them. But it was the exception, not the rule. So, it happens. BUT: Alcohol can cause a lot of strange behavior and cognitive dysfunction all on its own. Occam’s razor, folks. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/4 "2014-11-27T18:31:26Z")
It’s a very common thieving tool in some places. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/5 "2014-11-27T18:53:51Z")
Seems too risky to do it just for kicks. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/6 "2014-11-27T20:06:28Z")
Never heard of a [Mickey (Finn)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Finn_%28drugs%29)? Problem drunk in your bar? Give him “something extra” and then carry him out to the alleyway in 20 minutes. IIRC the most popular date rape drug, by far, is alcohol. Just because someone brought themselves to a state doesn’t make it any less scary. And some people will take some drugs in this category recreationally, intentionally. And some people might do it to others for the “Jackass” factor. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/7 "2014-11-27T20:24:01Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Never heard of a [Mickey (Finn)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Finn_%28drugs%29)? Problem drunk in your bar? Give him “something extra” and then carry him out to the alleyway in 20 minutes. > > IIRC the most popular date rape drug, by far, is alcohol. Just because someone brought themselves to a state doesn’t make it any less scary. And some people will take some drugs in this category recreationally, intentionally. And some people might do it to others for the “Jackass” factor. Yes, I have heard of a Mickey Finn, but not of one apparently being administered just as some sort of joke. Did you look at all at the article linked in the OP, or read the OP, or even the thread title, come to that? The alleged incidents have nothing to do with controlling problem drunks, and the whole point, what makes the incidents remarkable at all, is that they apparently have nothing to do with date (or other type of) rape. If it is just Jackassery, it strikes me as an extreme,and very dangerous, kind. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/8 "2014-11-28T01:47:08Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > So, it happens. BUT: Alcohol can cause a lot of strange behavior and cognitive dysfunction all on its own. Occam’s razor, folks. sounds like a name for a wicked drink. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/9 "2014-11-28T02:47:01Z")
I wouldn’t be surprised if some psychopath was doing it for shits and giggles. My father had this happen to him when he was younger with LSD. They certainly have a use for something like that in Colombia, [Devil’s Breath.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToQ8PWYnu04) ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/10 "2014-11-28T03:56:45Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Never heard of a [Mickey (Finn)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Finn_%28drugs%29)? **Problem drunk in your bar? Give him “something extra” and then carry him out to the alleyway in 20 minutes.** > > IIRC the most popular date rape drug, by far, is alcohol. Just because someone brought themselves to a state doesn’t make it any less scary. And some people will take some drugs in this category recreationally, intentionally. And some people might do it to others for the “Jackass” factor. Frankly - NO, I have NEVER heard of a bar tender / bar manager doing this. (I have worked in bars, my father managed 3 or 4 different pubs across more than 10 years when I was a kid) If you work in a bar - this is not how you get rid of “problem drunks” - having someone pass out in your bar is going to cause many more problems than it solves (obviously my experience is not universal - YMMV) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/11 "2014-11-28T07:46:14Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Yes, I have heard of a Mickey Finn, but not of one apparently being administered just as some sort of joke. > > Did you look at all at the article linked in the OP, or read the OP, or even the thread title, come to that? The alleged incidents have nothing to do with controlling problem drunks, and the whole point, what makes the incidents remarkable at all, is that they apparently have nothing to do with date (or other type of) rape. If it is just Jackassery, it strikes me as an extreme,and very dangerous, kind. :rolleyes: Here I thought this was IMHO, and you were okay with digressions that don’t factually address the opinion-based question you were asking, I haven’t heard of “roofies,” but I have encountered people dosing others with ecstasy without telling them. I can’t speculate on their motivation except to say that it shows a real lack of empathy. So for the lulz, or sociopathy. But maybe they wanted others to “just have fun,” health consequences be damned (and yes, ecstasy is not consequence-free even when it wears off). ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/12 "2014-11-28T10:05:35Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > what makes the incidents remarkable at all, is that they apparently have nothing to do with date (or other type of) rape. If it is just Jackassery, it strikes me as an extreme,and very dangerous, kind. Kids these days. Such extreme and dangerous Jackassery! When will they learn? _Never_ roofie someone unless you intend to rape them. It’s called being responsible. ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/13 "2014-11-28T11:56:16Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > sounds like a name for a wicked drink. In my experience the wickedest drinks are the ones where someone _has_ multiplied entities beyond necessity. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/14 "2014-11-28T14:19:33Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Seems too risky to do it just for kicks. When I was in high school, we had this plan of slipping LSD in the history teacher’s tea. Never came through, but we were finding the idea absolutely hilarious. So, I wouldn’t be surprised. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/15 "2014-11-28T15:28:02Z")
I feel like actual “roofying” for sex is largely an urban legend. Sort of like how when I was a kid, we were told to search our Halloween candy for razor blades. And “slipping someone a Micky” is something I’ve never heard outside of some old detective film noir. Sort of like boping someone on the head with your pistol to knock them out for 10 minutes with no other ill effects. That is to say, has it ever happened? Sure. Does it happen with enough frequency that you should expect a steaming cocktail of GHB if you turn your back on your drink? No. So personally I think the article is mostly BS. ---
**Author:** ![susanlinda823](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@susanlinda823](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susanlinda823)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/16 "2014-11-28T21:15:01Z")
There are people that take roofies as a recreational drug. Its the strangest thing Ive ever heard of. Also one of the dumbest. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/17 "2014-11-28T22:10:35Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Kids these days. > Such extreme and dangerous Jackassery! When will they learn? > _Never_ roofie someone unless you intend to rape them. It’s called being responsible. Exactly! Wasting a perfectly good roofie. Now _that’s_ drug abuse! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/18 "2014-11-29T01:53:48Z")
I don’t know. It might have happened to[this guy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=730918&highlight=anal). ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/19 "2014-11-29T02:48:37Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I feel like actual “roofying” for sex is largely an urban legend. Sort of like how when I was a kid, we were told to search our Halloween candy for razor blades. And “slipping someone a Micky” is something I’ve never heard outside of some old detective film noir. Sort of like boping someone on the head with your pistol to knock them out for 10 minutes with no other ill effects. That is to say, has it ever happened? Sure. Does it happen with enough frequency that you should expect a steaming cocktail of GHB if you turn your back on your drink? No. > So personally I think the article is mostly BS. It happened at a frat party somewhere this fall, I forget where. I’m sure it would happen more often if people weren’t watchful for it. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769/20 "2014-11-29T03:57:30Z")
Cecil says [there actually was a Mickey Finn](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/677/whats-in-a-mickey-finn), both a drink and the bartender who invented it. Wikipedia says the same, but the primary reference seems to be Cecil. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roofied-but-not-for-sex-a-real-thing/705769.md?page=2)