Spiking
Staying safe
Every year in the UK, many people – both female and male – report being spiked, and many more will have experienced it but just tried to cope with it on their own. This is really difficult to handle, as someone will feel very different to how they expect, as they will have taken something unknowingly. The most common way to be spiked is through a drink, and the most common substance used is alcohol. However, there have been reports of different methods of spiking, including through vapes and needles. Moreover, any substance can be used, though more commonly it is something that makes someone drowsy and disorientated, for example, a benzodiazepine or THC (one of the chemicals in cannabis) to exert a depressant effect or ketamine to cause dissociation. The motive may be assault, robbery, or just “for a laugh” but there is nothing funny about it.
To reduce the risk of being spiked
- Don’t accept anything from someone you don’t know well and don’t usually trust.
- Keep a close eye on drinks, making sure they aren’t left unattended, even briefly.
- Cover drinks to stop someone being able to slip something in – tumbler covers, spikeys for bottles, or even a hand over the top of a glass will do the trick.
- If something looks, smells or tastes funny, leave it well alone.
- Keep an eye on your friends, and look after them if they don’t seem well, particularly unexpectedly.
- If you feel different to how you’d expect, stop what you are doing, find a trusted friend and take yourself somewhere quiet to try and regain your equilibrium.
Signs of being spiked
Because so many drugs can be used to spike someone, the symptoms can vary hugely, but some of the signs can include:
- confusion or a sense of being out of control
- nausea or vomiting
- blurred vision
- hallucinations and paranoia
- disorientation or lack of coordination
- loss of communication ability
- drowsiness or unconsciousness.
If you think you’ve been spiked
- Seek help from someone you trust, or a member of staff.
- Don’t go off on your own.
- Get somewhere safe, ideally home but not without someone helping you.
- If you feel unwell, get medical help or call 999 if it is urgent.
- Report it to the police – spiking is a crime.
How to help a friend who has been spiked
- Stay with them and keep talking to them.
- Don’t try and manage it on your own, tell a friend, responsible adult or member of staff.
- Don’t let them go off on their own, or with someone they don’t know or trust.
- If they start to lose consciousness, put them in the recovery position – there is a high chance of vomiting and the combination presents a choking risk.
- Call 999 if you are really worried.
The aftermath of being spiked
Someone who has been spiked may feel embarrassed or ashamed, as well as suffering physical, mental and emotional symptoms as a result of unknowing drug use. There may also be contact with the police, which may mean reliving events and can be traumatic. Kindness and patience are essential, both towards themselves and from others as they heal from what is likely to have been a distressing experience.
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