1 Course Handbook

Drink Spiking

1 Course Handbook

2 Course Handbook2 Course Handbook

The Big Initiative has published this handbook as part of its training and development programme for people who work with

children and young people.

This guide covers a best practice view of the subject. Providing information that you can download and review in your

own time – this way, you can reflect and remind yourself of the key information you have learnt.

3 Course Handbook3 Course Handbook

Summary

“Spiking” is when alcohol or drugs are added to someone’s drink without their knowledge. Whilst a large number of people do report this, it is believed that many more cases may go unreported, due to either memory loss or embarrassment.

There are many different reasons a drink may be spiked, from a “prank” to an intended robbery or sexual assault. Source: Nottinghamshire Police

4 Course Handbook

Learning Outcomes

To know what drink spiking is

To understand the type of substances perpetrators use to spike drinks

To understand the signs of being spiked and who is at risk

To know how to protect yourself and others from drink spiking

To know what to do in the event of being assaulted due to drink spiking

5 Course Handbook

What Is Drink Spiking?

Learning Outcome 1: To know what drink spiking is

Drink spiking is a deliberate act. Public perception is that it is limited to slipping drugs into an alcoholic drink, however, drink spiking can include:

Putting alcohol into a non-alcoholic drink (such as water, soft drink, non-alcoholic punch or fruit juice).Adding extra alcohol to an alcoholic drink.

Slipping prescription or illegal drugs (such as benzodiazepines, amphetamines or GHB – also called liquid ecstasy) into an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink. Source: Better Health

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What Are Date Rape Drugs?

Learning Outcome 2: To understand the type of substances perpetrators use to spike drinks

Rohypnol (or Roofie) and Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) are the most commonly known “date-rape” drugs. Both drugs can be used to commit physical and sexual assaults as they can sedate or incapacitate a victim, making them more vulnerable to attack.

If your drink has been spiked with a date rape drug it's unlikely that you will see, smell or taste any difference, no matter what type of drink you are having. Most date rape drugs take effect within 15-30 minutes and symptoms usually last for several hours.

“Date-rape drugs” can be odourless, colourless and tasteless. They also leave the body within a short amount of time making them hard to detect.

Source: Drink Aware

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Recreational Drugs

Recreational drugs like Ecstasy, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Ketamine and other “party-drugs” are sometimes used to spike alcoholic drinks. Mixing alcohol and stimulants can be very dangerous and can cause serious medical problems, ranging from nausea to coma.

Source: Drink Aware

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What Are The Signs?

Learning Outcome 3: To understand the signs of being spiked and who is at risk

Depending on which drug was used, the signs that someone has been “spiked” can appear in as little as 15 minutes and can, potentially, last for several hours. A number of the symptoms are similar to the effects of alcohol and that make it difficult to know if someone has had their drink “spiked” – however, the main difference is how severe the symptoms are. While alcohol can severely affect someone, it often takes numerous drinks before that occurs.

If someone is displaying the below symptoms and you’re concerned about them, make sure you stay with them, get them any medical attention they need and ensure they get home safely.

There are a range of things to look out for, which include:● Confusion● Nausea or vomiting● Hallucinations● Disorientation● Loss of ability to communicate properly● Paranoia● Poor coordination● Unconsciousness

Source: Nottinghamshire Police

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Who Is at Risk of Drink Spiking?

Women are more likely to have their drinks spiked than men.

Studies show that most people are not aware of the dangers of drink spiking. For example:

Many people do not think they are at risk of drink spiking, and do not consider it a common occurrence.Drinks can be spiked by people you know or have just met. Such as, you may not consider an unknown person to be a stranger after talking to them for a while – then more likely to accept a drink from them.

Source: Nottinghamshire Police

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Symptoms of Drink Spiking

You may not realise your drink has been spiked by smelling it or tasting it. The substances used to spike drinks are often colourless and odourless.

Symptoms of drink spiking depend on many factors such as:● The substance used● What your drink has been mixed with● The dose● Your size and weight● How much alcohol you have already consumed

Source: Better Health

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How to Protect Your Drink

Learning Outcome 4: To know how to protect yourself and others from drink spiking

It’s important to take a few steps to prevent your drink from being spiked:

Never leave your drink unattended – take it with you wherever you go and, if the club doesn’t allow drinks on the dancefloor, take time to finish your drink before you go to the dancefloor, rather than leaving it on a table for later.

If someone offers to buy you a drink, make sure you go to the bar with them and watch your drink the whole time.

Don’t let them go to the bar on their own, as there are far too many opportunities for someone to interfere with your drink. Similarly, keep an eye out for people trying to distract you from your drink.

Wherever possible, have drinks from bottles – the necks make it more difficult to drop something into the bottle and you can also get “alcotops” or “spikeys” to fit bottles and protect your drink.

Let someone know where you are going and what time they can expect you back – plan your route home in advanceIf you are unsure about your drink, don’t drink it and tell a friend or member of staff. Don’t leave it on the side – either take it back to the bar or pour it away yourself.

Keep an eye on your friends and ensure you all get home safely.

Source: Nottinghamshire Police

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How to Avoid Drink Spiking

All venues that are licensed to sell alcohol have a legal duty for public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder on their premises, and this is monitored by their local authority. These licenses to sell alcohol usually include conditions to ensure venues have appropriate security and staff training in place.

Some venues give out drink stoppers for the top of your bottle to prevent someone dropping something in your drink.

There are also testing kits that can be used to detect certain drugs. However these don’t test for all types of drugs, so don’t always work, and they can’t detect extra alcohol in your drink.

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Helping a Friend Who Has Been Spiked

If you think a friend has had their drink spiked, and they are showing any of the symptoms described above, there are a few things you can do to help:

● Tell a bar manager, bouncer or member of staff● Stay with them and keep talking to them● Call an ambulance if their condition deteriorates● Don’t let them go home on their own● Don’t let them leave with someone you don’t know or trust● Don’t let them drink more alcohol - this could lead to more serious problem

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Psychological Consequences for the Victims of Drink Spiking

Psychological consequences for the victims of drink spiking:● Depression and anxiety● Unable to trust people● More nervous about being able to go out to a party or club● Unable to feel comfortable and relaxed in new surroundings, or be able to

meet new people● Long term mental illness

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What to Do If You Think You’ve Been Assaulted

Learning Outcome 5: To know what to do in the event of being assaulted due to drink spiking

One of the effects of date rape drugs can be amnesia, or loss of memory. That means it’s possible that you won’t be sure if you’ve been assaulted. If you suspect you’ve been physically or sexually assaulted it’s important to tell someone. Try to confide in someone you trust, like a friend or family member.

You can go to the police or hospital accident and emergency department. If you don’t feel able to do that right away, there are Rape Crisis charity helplines you can call for support and advice:

England and Wales: 0808 802 9999 (12–2.30pm and 7-9.30pm every day)

Scotland: 0808 801 0302 or text 07537 410 027 (6pm - midnight every day)

Northern Ireland: 08000 246 991 (Monday and Thursday, 6 – 8pm)

Source: Drink Aware

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What to Do If You Think You’ve Been Assaulted

If you don’t want to report a sexual assault to the police, you can still use the support services.

People who have been sexually assaulted while intoxicated may find it difficult to contact police or ask for professional help because they feel guilt or shame, or are afraid they will not be believed. Get support even if you can't remember exactly what happened. Some drugs used in drink spiking can cause short-term memory loss.

Drug-assisted sexual assault, like all sexual assault, is a crime. Police, health workers and sexual assault services are there to hear your story and help you.

Source: Better Health

17 Course Handbook

Injection Spiking

Some medical professionals say it could be possible to inject someone with drugs without them noticing.

Some needles are so thin you can "barely feel [them] going in", says Dr Shirin Lakhani, a cosmetic doctor specialising in women's health.

"[And] if someone's had a drink or so, they might be less inclined to feel the scratch of a needle."

Dr Lakhani - who has previously worked as a GP and anaesthetist - points out that people without medical expertise can learn to inject. For example, diabetic people inject their own insulin.

"If someone has access to needles and syringes and can get into a club, I don't see why they wouldn't be able to impact or hurt somebody in that way," adds Dr Veena Babu, a London-based GP.

Dr Babu says she can appreciate that opinion might be split on this, but "if there are women reporting this has happened, or they've felt dizzy and they've collapsed and noticed bruise marks, we have to respect what they're saying". (Source: BBC)

Police forces across the UK are investigating suspected cases of drug spiking by injection, but no definitive evidence has yet been found to support these accounts, and none of the suspected victims who have so far been tested were found to have anything in their systems that would indicate they had been spiked. (Source: New Statesman)

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