- As the reality of drink spiking filters through to students in Hull, here’s what you can do to protect yourself and your friends from those who would turn a harmless night deadly
Here’s a scenario to consider, you’re in a club and someone you don’t know hands you a drink. Do you drink it? The answer should have been no. Drink spiking has beenin the news recently after a guest DJ had his drink spiked in Sugar Mill on Monday 29th September with GHB. Drink spiking occurs when drugs or alcohol are added to your drink without your knowledge. Most drugs involved in drink spiking take 5 to 20 minutes after the drink has been spiked to take effect. Symptoms include; dizziness, disorientation, difficulty speaking, visual problems and amnesia. Although these sound like the results of a particularly brutal night out, when applied to ‘spike’ victims, the consequences can be dire. Victims often suffer mental distress for long periods of time, sometimes even to the extent whereby they cannot remember what happened until days after. Rohypnol, known as the ‘date rape’ drug takes 48 hours to leave the systems and GHB only 12 hours, so if you believe your drink has been spiked then tell someone you trust and the staff and manager of the club and have them take you to A&E. If it is entirely necessary, CPR can be performed, but only if the person is qualified. GHB, the drug used on this particular occasion, is also known as ‘fantasy’, and is used for medicinal purposes as well as a means to do harm. Drinks spiked with GHB can have a noticeable salty flavour, but it is difficult to trace in urine samples, making it, regrettably, an ideal date-rape drug. Reasons for drink spiking include amusement, sexual assault, rape or theft and while the majority of drink spiking cases occur with women, men make up 11% of reported cases. Shockingly, 68% of victims know their rapist as a partner or friend. Drink spiking doesn’t only occur in clubs, 10% of reported cases last year occurred on a university campus. Some ways of avoiding having your drink spiked include keeping your drink with you at all times and cover the top of the glass or bottle with your hand. You should be as wary of your friends’ drinks as your own. Never accept a drink from someone you don’t know or drink left over drinks. Finally,
whenever possible, drink from a bottle rather than a glass as bottles are easier to cover. Most clubs now give out bottle stoppers that allow enough space for only a straw to enter. If one isn’t provided with the drink ask at the bar as most places including Asylum, Sanctuary and Sugar Mill give them out for free. Drink spiking is extremely serious and should be understood by everyone who walks into a club. There have been instances where victims cannot trust their own friends or partners for a long time afterwards, and are frightened to talk about it, mainly because it is impossible to recall exactly what happened to them following the spiking. For more information on drink spiking including a comprehensive list of symptoms and ways to protect yourself visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
Tom Lewis
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