What is spiking?
A person’s drink can be spiked to make them more vulnerable for a variety of motives, including theft or sexual assault.
If your drink has been spiked it is unlikely it will look, smell, or taste any different. Most drugs take effect within 15-30 minutes and symptoms will usually last for several hours.
Different types of spiking can include the following substances being added to drinks:
- Alcohol
- ‘Date rape’ drugs
- Illegal drugs
- Prescription drugs (e.g. stimulants, tranquilisers, sedatives, opiates)
Drink spiking can happen to any type of drink, whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic. The effects can be unpredictable but are likely to be more serious if someone who’s had their drink spiked has also consumed more alcohol or other drugs. This is because of the combination of effects from the different drugs working at the same time.
Shots of alcohol can be added to drinks to make them stronger, causing someone to get drunk much more quickly than expected. Or sometimes a drink can be spiked with drugs that are specifically designed to incapacitate someone.
Symptoms of drink spiking
The effects of drink spiking vary depending on what you’ve been spiked with. Your symptoms could include:
- Lowered inhibitions
- Loss of balance
- Feeling sleepy
- Visual problems
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Unconsciousness
The symptoms will depend on various factors, including the substance or mix of substances used (including the dose), your size and weight, and how much alcohol you have already consumed.
Further Support
- DrinkAware - Drink spiking and date rape drugs
- UK government FRANK - Spiking – top tips to stay safe