What is spiking?

 'Spiking' is when someone gives someone alcohol or drugs without their consent. Traditionally we think of adding drugs to someone’s drink, and more recently spiking by injection. However, spiking can also take the form of things like giving someone a different drug to the one they consented to taking or adding additional alcohol to somebody’s drink. 
 

Spiking may be for malicious purposes (for example, to cause fear or make someone more vulnerable to another crime) or non-malicious but equally dangerous purposes (for example, believing that it will lead to someone having “more fun"). 

A person 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: 

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. 

 

 

The effects of spiking vary depending on what you’ve been spiked with. Your symptoms could include: 

 

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