Lots of you may have been made aware of reports of spiking in Durham. This guidance, based on that produced by NUS and the Girls Night In campaign, will help you to find out how to report an incident of spiking, as well as where to seek support if you have been affected by it.

Please note that incidents of spiking, particularly by injection, are extremely rare. Durham SU is in contact with local police and relevant stakeholders within the community and the University to continue to monitor the local situation closely.

What is drink spiking?

Drinks spiked with alcohol or drugs can make a person seriously vulnerable. Spiking someone’s drink carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence in the UK.

Spiking a drink - whether with an extra shot of alcohol or another substance – is a serious crime. Anyone that does it could face serious criminal charges, and it can have very dangerous consequences for the health of the person whose drink is spiked.

Spiking a drink with the intention of making someone more vulnerable to assault, rape or robbery is an even more serious offence. Having sex with someone without their consent is always a crime – no matter what the circumstances are. Assault, rape and robbery all carry additional sentences.

A person’s drink can be spiked to make them more vulnerable for a variety of motives, including theft or sexual assault.

Different types of spiking can include the following substances being added to drinks:

• Alcohol
• ‘Date rape’ drugs
• Illegal drugs
• Prescription drugs (e.g. stimulants, tranquilisers, sedatives, opiates)

Drink spiking can happen to any type of drink, whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic. The effects can be unpredictable but are likely to be more serious if someone who’s had their drink spiked has also consumed more alcohol, or other drugs. This is because of the combination of effects from the different drugs working at the same time.

Shots of alcohol can be added to drinks to make them stronger, causing someone to get drunk much quicker than expected. Or sometimes a drink can be spiked with drugs that are specifically designed to incapacitate someone.

Because there are no official statistics it’s difficult to know the true extent of the crime. Often people don’t report drink spiking, because they don’t remember details of the night, or they feel embarrassed.

It can be a scary experience and it’s important to be able to recognise the signs your drink has been spiked or how to help someone you suspect has been a victim.

What are date rape drugs?

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.

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.

Symptoms of drink spiking

The effects of drink spiking vary depending on what you’ve been spiked with. Your symptoms could include:

• Lowered inhibitions
• Loss of balance
• Feeling sleepy
• Visual problems
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Unconsciousness

The symptoms will depend on lots of factors such as the substance or mix of substances used (including the dose), your size and weight, and how much alcohol you have already consumed.

If you or a friend start to feel strange or more drunk than you should be, then get help straight away.

What steps can I take to stay safe?

Spiking can take place in public venues such as clubs and bars, as well as in domestic settings such as house parties and gatherings. If possible, you can take the following actions:

• Watch you and your friend’s drinks being prepared and served.
• Keep drinks in hand and in sight.
• Use drink toppers. Some venues distribute drink toppers that are used to cover a drink to stop people spiking them.
• Use drug testing kits. Some venues provide drug testing kits which can be used to detect certain drugs. Be aware these do not test for all types of drugs, so don’t always work, and cannot detect extra alcohol in your drink.

What should I do if my drink gets spiked?

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.

If you suspect you have been spiked, tell a member of staff and your friends. If you are seriously unwell get a member of staff or trusted friend to take you to A and E. Students can use the night-cab service to travel safely.

Reporting suspected drink spiking to a venue and the police is one way to ensure enough steps are being taken to keep people safe. A and E only perform toxicology tests for drugs when deemed medically necessary. The best way to get tested in County Durham is through reporting to the police.

The NHS has the following guidance on what to do if you think you’ve been injected with a needle: What should I do if I injure myself with a used needle? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Reporting: [+]

Supporting: [+]

Page last reviewed: 15/11/2021