What is
Drink Spiking?
Drink spiking is the surreptitious act of sneaking drugs or alcohol to someone’s beverage (primarily alcoholic). Most cases of drink spiking are done to commit sexual assault or robbery. Drink spiking also has been committed out of anger or for sheer entertainment value. Young women are the most common targets of this crime, although men are victims as well.
Most cases of drink spiking occur in night clubs, bars, and at parties.
How YOU can prevent drink spiking…
- Always buy your own drink and try to watch it being poured or made.
- Don’t accept drinks from a stranger.
- Don’t accept drinks from a common source such as a punch bowl.
- Don’t drink or taste anyone else’s drink.
- Never leave your drink unattended…
- But if you do, beware of some tell-tale signs: Has your drink been moved? Is the straw missing? Has the color, smell, or taste changed?
- If you observe anything about your drink that doesn’t seem right, don’t risk it. Return it and report your suspicions to the bartender or server.
Signs that you’ve been spiked…
- lowered
inhibitions - difficulty
concentrating
or speaking - blurred
vision - hallucinating
- loss of balance
and finding it
hard to move - memory loss
or “blackouts” - nausea and
vomiting - paranoia
(feeling of fear
or distrust from
others) - feeling confused
or disoriented
What to do if
you think you’ve
been spiked…
- Immediately talk to someone you trust
- Quickly drink plenty of water
- Note what time it happened
- Alert club or bar management
- Call the police
- Seek medical attention immediately
- Never go anywhere alone
How to help a friend who might have been spiked…
- tell a bar manager,
bouncer, or
staff member. - don’t let them
go home alone. - stay with them
and keep
talking to them. - call an ambulance
if their condition
deteriorates. - don’t let them
leave with
someone you don’t
know or trust.