Annie Whyman, VP Inclusion
Warning the contents of this blog may be triggering and upsetting. It discusses what spiking is, recognising the signs, and how to report it.
You have the right to feel safe and have fun when you are going on a night out. As the term continues into autumn and winter, people are socialising in new environments or with new people, and as such, safety is paramount and spiking awareness is important. We are partnering with the police to provide resources to students surrounding spiking.
This starts simply with knowledge. Spiking is:
- Adding additional alcohol or drugs to someone’s drink, vape, cigarettes or food without their consent
- Giving someone more alcohol than they have asked for
- Giving someone more drugs than they asked for
- Administering drugs to someone without their consent
There are different types of spiking: needle spiking, which is injecting drugs into somebody; spiking a vape or a cigarette; adding drugs into somebody’s food; or adding drugs or alcohol to someone’s drink.
Symptoms of spiking may vary from person to person and are dependent on the substance you have been spiked with. Symptoms can affect your body, emotions and brain and can include:
- Confusion, disorientation and poor coordination
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of the ability to communicate properly
- Loss of balance
- Unconsciousness
- Problems with vision
- Memory loss
- Lowered inhibitions
It’s important to know what you have taken before the incident and when you did so, so you or your friends can properly assess your symptoms. Knowing if you have mixed substances will help you understand or report their symptoms to the correct people. If someone’s behaviour seems different to what you would expect based on the substances you have taken or the amount you have drunk, take it seriously and seek help. If you are concerned that you may have been spiked while on a night out, you can speak to the location’s welfare officer or the security at the door. They are trained to support people who are concerned they may have been spiked. You can also contact the NHS at 111, or if you are extremely unwell, call 999. Do not be afraid, as you are not to blame for this incident. Your safety is the most important thing. If you have taken any substances, please be honest about what you have taken. The people supporting you are there to help keep you safe, not to get you into trouble. Being open with them means they can give you the right support and care. Unless you are driving, having illegal drugs in your system is not an offence.
Victims may find that they are feeling depressed, anxious or in denial about the situation, particularly if they struggle to remember what happened. They may downplay the situation, especially as friends or family may similarly be in denial as they are frightened by the situation. There is no wrong or right way to feel about an incident as serious as this, and it’s important to seek out the appropriate mental health support, such as seeking support from the NHS/police or making a referral to yellow door/finding your nearest SARC if you are concerned a secondary assault took place.
Victims can be anyone, no matter what their age, gender, sexuality or ethnicity. While most cases of spiking don’t result in a secondary offence such as assault or theft, it is important to take an incident seriously. Spiking is illegal, and a sentence can carry up to ten years; if a secondary offence occurs, then the sentence can be longer. There is no time limit for a report of spiking, so if it happened recently or years ago, you should report it. There are several ways you can report spiking; you can report it online, and it is treated with the same urgency as a call to 999. You can also visit a police station and speak to an officer in person; alternatively, you can send someone on your behalf to report the incident (such as a friend, medical staff or another person). Anonymous reporting is also possible (although this likely will mean a full investigation is harder to complete) through the Crimestoppers website or by calling 0800 555 111.
For action to take place, it is important to be tested. Some drugs leave the body within 12 hours or sooner; reporting and allowing for testing means that further investigation can take place. There are a number of forensic tests which can be done, such as collecting a urine sample, blood sample or samples of hair and nails. Further evidence could include DNA evidence, or something left behind such as a needle or drugs. The results of these tests could provide evidence to help identify who spiked you. It is important to state how much voluntary drug or alcohol you have consumed to provide a more accurate result. If you wish for a further investigation to take place, being tested as quickly as possible allows for evidence to be gathered quickly to help support your case.
You can find out more on the Hampshire and Isle of Wight website. If you have concerns, the Advice Centre have a small and limited quantity of reusable drink covers, spike test kits, and personal alarms. During the October safety week campaign (19th-23rd), we will also be giving out disposable drink covers, which can then later be picked up from reception
Online report: Report spiking | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
Crime stoppers: Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers
Yellow door referral: Re Refer and Referral Pathways for Survivors in Southampton – Yellow Door
