Drink spiking has been increasing common over the years, and occurs when a substance such as drugs or alcohol is added to your drink without you realising it. The result is that your behaviour and thought processes are impaired. If your drink is spiked, the way you feel will depend on the drug that’s been used – common effects are feeling drowsy, confused or the inability to speak or move. This may affect your ability to remember what has happened. You should report anything you feel may have happened to you immediately to your GP and the police. There are ways to reduce the risk of having your drink spiked, such as never leaving your drink unattended and making sure that you don’t accept a drink from someone you don’t know. Don’t continue speaking to people who make you feel uncomfortable and let people you trust know where you are at all times. If you’ve just met someone, don’t give them too much information about yourself and don’t put yourself in any potential danger if you’ve already been drinking as your judgement will already be impaired. It isn’t just women who are targeted – the most common reasons for people’s drinks getting spiked include doing it for amusement, for malicious reasons, to carry out rape or sexual assault, and to carry out theft.
Depending on what drugs have been used the symptoms you have will change. The effect of any drug changes on your body shape and size, age, how much of the drink you consumed, and how much alcohol you’ve already had. The most common date rape drugs are alcohol, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), tranquillisers such as rohypnol, and ketamine. These drugs are depressants, and they work by slowing down your nervous system so that your responses are dulled. They also affect your memory and instincts. When you take these substances without realising, you leave yourself vulnerable to danger. You may have difficulty concentrating, feel confused and disorientated, have a loss of balance, paranoia, lowered inhibitions, temporary loss of memory and body sensation, hallucinations and amnesia. All date rape drugs are especially dangerous when they’re combined with alcohol as they have a powerful anaesthetic effect, leading to unconsciousness and even fatalities.
Alcohol is a common date rape drugs, as it can be added to soft drinks without you knowing and double measures can be used instead of singles. If you’ve already been drinking then you’ll be less aware when such things occur, so it can be easier for attackers to take these measures. GHB usually comes in the form of an oily, colourless liquid or a powder, though this form is rarely used. It can be found as GBL in some household products, but it turns to GHB when it enters the body. Tranquilisers are also used, with the most common known as benzodiazepines. You may be more aware of these when they’re used by the name of valium, roofies, benzos and rohypnol. They make your body relaxed and free of tension, as well as being used to treat anxiety or insomnia. Lastly, ketamine is a powerful anaesthetic which comes in a liquid form. It causes hallucinations and can provide an outer body experience. There have been many cases of this being used as a drink spiking ingredient. If you think that you’ve been a victim of drink spiking, it’s imperative that you speak to the police and seek medical advice as soon as possible.