Feeling spikey
Question
What will happen to me if my drink is spiked?
Answer
Drink spiking is when alcohol or another drug is added to your drink without you knowing. As a result, you become drunk or feel the effects of drugs unexpectedly.
Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks can be spiked, so the effects of spiking depend on what the drink was spiked with. The most common drugs used to spike drinks are Rohypnol and GHB. Rohypnol is best known as 'the date rape drug'. It is odourless and colourless and can be slipped into drinks, making people pass out or temporarily lose their memory.
The effects of drink spiking depend on a number of things, including your size, weight and the amount or combination of the drugs used. You can become unconscious, unable to defend yourself, and forget what happened. As a result, having your drink spiked makes you extremely vulnerable.
People may spike your drink as a prank or with the intent of assaulting, robbing or sexually assaulting you. Some warning signs may include feeling dizzy or faint, feeling sick or sleepy, feeling intoxicated or confused, passing out, and waking up feeling uncomfortable and disorientated with memory blanks about the night before. As many of these effects are similar to those you experience when you're drunk, it can be easy to confuse what's happening to you if you've had a bit to drink.
If you are concerned about having your drink spiked there are measures you can take to reduce the risk of this happening:
- If you're going out drinking, remember that alcohol can affect your actions and reactions, so don't drink so much that you're too drunk to tell that something's wrong;
- Do not accept drinks from anyone you don't know or trust, and don't share or taste other people's drinks;
- Buy bottled drinks and keep your thumb over the top when you're not drinking;
- Never leave your drink unattended;
- If you return to your drink and it has been topped up, moved, or it looks different in any way, don't drink from it again;
- Be aware that soft drinks, tea, coffee and hot chocolate can be spiked too;
- Look out for your friends and keep an eye on their drinks. If you think their drink has been spiked, get them out of the situation as fast as possible.
If you're worried your drink might have been spiked you can contact Get Connected on 0808 808 4994. It's a free helpline with advisors who can help you find the best help whatever the problem.
Updated: 13/04/2010
Question answered by Addaction
