Drink spiking refers to the illegal act of adding drugs to people's drinks without their knowledge to try and control their behaviours. Although drink spiking is the most common, spiking can take many forms (all of which are illegal).
A person may be spiked to increase vulnerability for a variety of reasons, including sexual assault, robbery, or an attempted joke. Everyone is at risk from drink spiking.
Spiking often causes long term physical, emotional, and psychological damage to the victim.
Free anti- drink spiking kits are available to collect from our HUBS Helpdesk.
This is spiking:
- Giving someone alcohol or extra alcohol without their knowledge or after they've said no, e.g. adding shots to their drink.
- Giving someone drugs through a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) without their knowledge, e.g. drink spiking.
This is also spiking:
- Lacing a cigarette with other drugs, e.g. cannabis.
- Putting drugs into someone's food, e.g. baking cannabis brownies without knowledge or consent.
- Giving someone a drug that isn't what you say it is, e.g. offering one substance and giving another.
- Injecting someone with drugs without their knowledge or consent, i.e. needle spiking.
- Passing a substance into their mouth without consent, e.g. through kissing or forcefully making someone take a substance.
- Rubbing liquid drugs into someone's skin without their knowledge or consent.
Spiking is illegal and a serious crime that carries a sentence of up to ten years in prison. If a robbery, sexual assault, or other criminal behaviour has also taken place, the sentence will be even longer. A criminal offence may also affect a person's ability to obtain a visa, travel abroad, or apply for a particular job.
Symptoms of being spiked
If you think you or someone you are out with has had their drink spiked, there are a range of things to look out for, including:
- Confusion
- Nausea or vomiting
- Hallucinations
- Disorientation
- Loss of ability to communicate properly
- Paranoia
- Poor coordination
- Unconsciousness
What to do if you think your drink has been spiked
- Tell the people you're with, make sure you're with someone you trust and that you are somewhere where you feel safe and are away from crowds.
- Alert a member of staff at the pub, club, or location you are at.
- Secure any claimed drink, container, or residue if possible.
- If you feel unwell, seek medical attention immediately and tell them you believe your drink has been spiked.
- Report the incident to the police as soon as possible by calling 101. Dial 999 in an emergency.
Drugs can leave the body in as little as 12 hours after consumption, so it's important you receive help and get tested quickly.
What to do if someone you're with thinks their drink has been spiked
- Listen to them, provide support, and avoid any judgement. Always believe what the person is telling you.
- Help the individual to a place where they feel safe, away from crowds. Drink spiking is scary and the person needs to be reassured they're safe.
- Alert a member of staff at the venue you are at as soon as possible.
- If they feel unwell, seek medical attention immediately and inform the venue and medical staff that you believe their drink has been spiked.
- Don't let the person go home by themselves. Make sure they're with someone they know and trust.
- Secure any claimed drink, container, or residue if possible.
- Report the incident to the police as soon as possible by calling 101. Dial 999 in an emergency.
Drugs can leave the body in as little as 12 hours after consumption, so it's important they receive help and get tested quickly.
Further support