Drink Spiking & Date Rape Drugs

𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗦

Drink spiking is when someone puts drugs or alcohol into your drink without you knowing. The drugs used are mind-altering substances that affect how you behave.

So-called 'date rape drugs' may be used to spike a drink before a sexual assault. They are the most common drugs used to spike drinks and date rape drugs can come in powder or liquid form. They may not have an unusual taste or smell.

There are many reasons why someone might spike a drink.

The most common reasons are:

▪ To carry out a sexual assault or rape

▪ To carry out a physical assault

▪ To carry out a theft

▪ For amusement

Drink spiking does not only target females. Anyone can be targeted.

Drink spiking is a crime whatever the reason it is carried out for.

𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗦

Date rape drugs are depressants. They work by slowing down your nervous system and dulling your responses. They make it harder for you to resist an assault.

Some date rape drugs are legally prescribed for anxiety and insomnia. But when taken without knowing, these drugs leave you vulnerable to danger.

Date rape drugs will affect your behaviour and the messages that you give out to other people. You will not be fully in control of yourself and someone could take advantage of you.

Date rape drugs can start to take effect within 5 minutes of being taken, or up to an hour afterwards.

𝗦𝗬𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗦

Most date rape drugs take effect within 30 minutes, and symptoms usually last for several hours.

But if you pass out, it'll be hard to know the full effect. You may still feel some of the symptoms of a date rape drug after a night's sleep.

Although your symptoms will depend on which substance has been used, they usually include some of the following:

▪ Lowered inhibitions

▪ Difficulty concentrating or speaking

▪ Loss of balance and finding it hard to move

▪ Visual problems, particularly blurred vision

▪ Memory loss (amnesia) or 'blackouts'

▪ Feeling confused or disorientated, particularly after waking up (if you have been asleep)

▪ Paranoia (a feeling of fear or distrust of others)

▪ Hallucinations (seeing, hearing or touching things that are not there) or having an 'out of body' experience

▪ Nausea and vomiting

▪ Unconsciousness

𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗦

𝗔𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗹

Alcohol is the most common date rape drug. It can be added to a soft (non-alcoholic) drink without you knowing. Or double measures can be used instead of singles. If you have had a drink already, you may find it harder to tell how much alcohol you are drinking.

The effects of alcohol will depend on how much you drink and if you have been drinking already.

𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮-𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗯𝘂𝘁𝘆𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮-𝗯𝘂𝘁𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) usually comes in the form of a slightly oily, colourless liquid. It also comes, less often, as a powder.

Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) is a more basic form of GHB. It is another possible date rape drug. It comes in liquid form and is found in some household products. After entering the body, GBL changes into GHB.

Only a very small amount of GHB is needed to have an effect. It can be dissolved easily into other liquids. GHB has an unpleasant taste and a weak odour. But, you are unlikely to notice it in very small doses or when it is mixed with a strong-flavoured drink.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿𝘀

Tranquillizers come in hundreds of different forms. The most common are called benzodiazepines. They normally come as a tablet.

You may hear of these as:

▪ Valium

▪ Rohypnol

▪ Roofies

▪ Benzos

They are sometimes legally prescribed to treat anxiety or insomnia. Tranquillizers work by slowing down your body. They relieve tension and making you feel very relaxed.

𝗞𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲

Ketamine, sometimes called K, is a powerful anaesthetic. It is used for both animals and humans. It's a liquid in its legal form. Illegally, it is normally a grainy white powder or a tablet.

𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗗 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚

If your drink has been spiked, it's unlikely that you'll see, smell or taste any difference. Some drugs, such as GHB, may taste slightly salty or smell unusual.

If you start to feel strange or more drunk than you should be, get help immediately.

The following steps may help prevent drink spiking:

▪ Never leave your drink unattended, and keep an eye on your friends' drinks.

▪ Do not accept a drink from someone you do not know.

▪ Consider sticking to bottled drinks and avoiding punch bowls or jugs of cocktails.

▪ Don't give out your address to someone you have just met.

▪ If you think your drink's been tampered with, do not drink it – tell a trusted friend or relative immediately.

▪ Before going out, let someone know where you're going and what time you expect to be home.

▪ Make plans for your journey home.

▪ Avoid taking expensive equipment with you or anything that could be a target for thieves.

▪ If you're travelling abroad, be aware of the local area and where you can find help.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗢 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗛𝗔𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗

First, tell someone you completely trust, such as:

▪ A close friend

▪ A relative

▪ A medical professional

▪ The police

If you are not with anyone, call someone you trust and get to a safe place. Ask to use a phone if yours has been stolen.

If you need urgent help, call 999. Be wary of accepting help from a stranger and do not leave with someone you do not know.

If you feel unwell, someone you trust should take you to your nearest emergency department (ED). Tell the medical staff that you think your drink's been spiked.

Arrange for a trusted friend or relative to take you home and stay with you until the drugs have fully left your system.

Report it to the police as soon as you can. They may ask you to provide blood and urine samples.

Most drugs leave the body within 72 hours of being taken. The date rape drug GHB leaves the body within 12 hours, so it's important to be tested as soon as possible.

If you're abroad, get help from a travel representative or local medical services, or ask a bar or hotel manager to call local police.

If you have been sexually assaulted, you should get medical attention as soon as possible.

You may need tests to determine if you have any sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or if you're pregnant.

𝗦𝗬𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗦

Your symptoms will depend on which substance was used. This could be alcohol or another drug.

Symptoms can include:

▪ Drowsiness or light-headedness

▪ Difficulty speaking

▪ Slurring your words

▪ Difficulty concentrating

▪ Loss of balance

▪ Finding it hard to move

▪ Visual problems, particularly blurred vision

▪ Memory loss or 'blackouts' - when you cannot remember large sections of your evening

▪ Feeling confused or disorientated, particularly after waking up

▪ Paranoia - a feeling of fear or distrust of others

▪ Hallucinations - seeing, hearing or touching things that aren't there

▪ Nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting

▪ Unconsciousness

▪ Temporary loss of body sensation - having an 'out of body' experience.

All date rape drugs are particularly dangerous when they are mixed with alcohol. This is because they combine to have a very powerful anaesthetic effect. This is a temporary loss of sensation or awareness. It can cause unconsciousness. In more extreme cases, it can cause coma or even death.

𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧

How long the drugs' effects last will depend on how much has been taken and how much alcohol, if any, you have drunk.

The symptoms could last between 3 to 7 hours, but if you pass out it will be hard to know the full effect. You may still feel some of the symptoms of a date rape drug after a night's sleep; particularly confusion, amnesia or nausea.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢 𝗗𝗢 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗

If you think your drink has been spiked, take action immediately. Your priority is to protect yourself from further harm.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁

As you cannot be sure how your body will react to an unknown substance, you will need to get help from someone you trust.

This could be:

▪ A friend or relative

▪ The manager of the place you're in

▪ Security staff

▪ The Police

▪ A healthcare professional

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸

If you still have some of the spiked drink left, keep hold of it if possible. It might be used as evidence. Give it to someone you trust until it can be given to the Police.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹

Ask a friend to take you to the Emergency Department (A & E) if you have symptoms such as:

▪ Drowsiness

▪ Vomiting

▪ Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)

When you arrive at the ED, you or your friend should tell the medical staff that you think your drink has been spiked.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀

If you think that your drink has been spiked but you have no severe symptoms, contact the Police. Reporting the incident as soon as possible will help to catch the offender.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲

If you need immediate medical attention, go to the ED before contacting the Police. Call 999 or 112 if you need help urgently.

Contact the Police as soon as you can. You will need to have your blood or urine tested to confirm that your drink has been spiked. This test will help the Police to investigate the crime.

𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁

Following a drink spiking incident, blood or urine samples will need to be taken as soon as possible.

Most drugs leave the body 12 to 72 hours after being taken. So it's important that a blood or urine sample is tested as soon as possible.

For example, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) will be:

▪ Undetectable in your blood within 6 to 8 hours

▪ Undetectable in your urine within 12 to 18 hours

𝗚𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲

Arrange for someone you trust to take you home after:

▪ You have been to the ED

▪ The Police have been contacted

▪ A blood or urine sample has been taken.

Once you are at home, ask that trusted person to stay with you until the drugs have fully left your system. This will probably be the following day. This is in case any symptoms get worse and you are unable to look after yourself.

𝗦𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you should always get medical attention.

You may need to be checked to see if you have any sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or if you're pregnant.

You do not have to report an attack to the Police immediately if you do not want to. But do get medical help immediately if you have been hurt or injured. Any forensic evidence that is taken during tests can be stored. You can decide later if you want to report the attack.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

Contact the Rape Crisis England Centre 24 hour helpline on 0808 500 2222

𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗨𝗟𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗬

If you have been assaulted, robbed or both, you should report this to the Police as soon as possible.

They will want any information that you have about your attackers, such as:

▪ If you knew them

▪ what they looked like

▪ The events that led to the attack

▪ What happened during the attack

▪ What was taken

If you have been physically assaulted, the Police will need to keep a record of your injuries.

𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗬 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘

If your drink has been spiked, it is unlikely that you will be able to see, taste or smell any difference. So, it's important to try to stop it from happening.

Follow this advice to help you stay safe from drink spiking when you are out.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸

▪ Keep your drink in your hand.

▪ When possible, drink from a bottle rather than a glass - it's more difficult to spike a drink in a bottle.

▪ Hold your thumb over the opening if you are drinking from a bottle.

▪ Do not leave your drink unattended at any time, even while you are in the toilet.

𝗕𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀

▪ Keep an eye on your friend's drinks.

▪ Do not share or exchange drinks, or drink leftover drinks.

▪ Stay away from situations that you do not feel comfortable with.

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀

▪ Never accept a drink from anyone you don't know or trust.

▪ If you go on a date with someone who you don't know, tell a friend or relative where you will be and what time you will be back.

▪ Do not give away too much information to anyone you have just met, such as your address.

𝗕𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆

▪ If you're travelling abroad, be aware of the local area and where you can find help.

▪ Do not show off expensive equipment or anything that thieves might target.

▪ Make a plan for your journey home.

Remember that if you have already been drinking, you will be more vulnerable. This is because alcohol dulls your instincts and your awareness of danger.

𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙, 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙞𝙩 – 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮.

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