How
to avoid drink spiking
If your
drink has been spiked, it's unlikely that you will see,
smell or taste any difference. Some drugs, such as GHB,
may taste slightly salty or smell unusual.
If you
start to feel strange or more drunk than you should
be, get help immediately.
Binge
drinking,
where you drink lots of alcohol in a short
space of time, can increase the risk of having your
drink spiked or being the victim of a sexual
assault.
Try to
avoid drinking too much alcohol, especially in
unfamiliar situations. You could lose control, make
risky decisions and become less aware of
danger.
The
following steps may also help prevent drink spiking:
- Never
leave your drink unattended and keep an eye on your
friends' drinks.
- Don't
accept a drink from someone you don't know.
- Consider
sticking to bottled drinks and avoiding punch bowls
or jugs of cocktails.
- Don't
give out your address to someone you've just met.
- If
you think your drink has been tampered with, don't
drink it – tell a trusted friend or relative
immediately.
- Before going
out, let someone know where you're going and
what time you expect to be home.
- Make
plans for your journey home.
- Avoid
taking expensive equipment with you or anything that
could be a target for thieves.
- If
you are travelling abroad, be aware of the local
area and where you can find help.
Some
bars provide plastic stopper devices, such as lids to
put on bottles, which can reduce the risk of your drink
being spiked. However, these stoppers won't stop you
consuming a drink that has been spiked with additional
alcohol.
They
may also provide kits to test your drink, but these
don’t test for every kind of drug and often don't
work.
What
should I do if I think my drink has been spiked?
First,
tell someone you completely trust, such as:
- a
close friend
- a
relative
- a
medical professional
- the
police
If you
aren't with anyone, call someone you trust and get
to a safe place. Ask to use a phone if yours has been
stolen.
If you
need urgent help, call 999. Be wary of accepting help
from a stranger and don’t leave with someone you
don’t know.
If you
feel unwell, someone you trust should take you to your
nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department.
Tell the medical staff that you think your drink has
been spiked.
Arrange
for a trusted friend or relative to take you home and
stay with you until the drugs have fully left your
system.
Report
it to the police as soon as you can. They may ask
you to provide blood and urine samples.
Most
drugs leave the body within 72 hours of being taken (the
date rape drug GHB leaves the body within 12 hours), so
it's important to be tested as soon as possible.
If you
are abroad, get help from a travel representative, local
medical services or ask a bar or hotel manager to call
local police. You can also find contact
details for the British Embassy, High Commission or
Consulate on GOV.UK.
Phsical
assault and robbery following a spiked drinky
If you
have been physically assaulted, robbed, or both, you
should report this to the police. They will want any
information you have about your attackers, such as:
- if
you knew them
- what
they looked like
- the
circumstances that led to the attack
- what
happened during the attack
- what
was taken
The
police will need to keep a record of your injuries, and
you may need to receive medical treatment.
If you've
been sexually assaulted following drink
spiking
If you
have been sexually assaulted, you should get medical
attention as soon as possible. You may need tests to
determine whether you have any sexually
transmitted infections (STIs),
or whether you are pregnant.
You
don't have to report an attack to the police immediately
if you don't want to.
You can
contact any of the following places for advice,
treatment or referral to a specialist service (such as a
forensic examination):
Any forensic evidence that is obtained during tests
can be stored while you decide whether to report the
attack to the police.
