Spiking in nightclubs
At long last, nightclubs are back – but unfortunately, so is spiking
After nearly a year of waiting, nightclubs have finally reopened. Hooray…right? Shockingly, with the reopening of clubs, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of spikings.
An independent investigation conducted by the BBC found that between 2015-19 there were 2,650 reports of drink spiking in England and Wales. 72% of the drink spiking victims were women and around 10% were under 18 years of age.
So, what is spiking?
Drink spiking is the practice of putting a drug into someone else’s drink, often to incapacitate them, rob them or sexually assault them.
As well as drink spiking, an increasing number of women are reportedly being spiked in nightclubs via needle injection. Sadly, needle attacks are not a new problem.
What to look out for
Below is a quick summary of the signs and symptoms of being spiked, and what to do if YOU or someone you know has been spiked. For more information, read this Granada article.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUFuwu6N5Du/?utm_source=ig
Signs and symptoms:
The effects of spiking can vary depending on what someone has been spiked with. Symptoms might include:
- Acting differently
- Loss of balance
- Visual problems
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Unconsciousness
How to help someone whose drink has been spiked/spiked by injection
- Don’t let them go home on their own
- Don’t let them leave with someone you don’t know or trust
- Don’t let them drink more alcohol – this could lead to more serious problems.
- Stay with them and keep talking to them
- Tell a bar manager, bouncer or member of staff
- Call an ambulance if their condition deteriorates
What to do if you think YOU’VE spiked
- Do not drink any more of your drink if you suspect it has been spiked
- Tell someone you trust immediately. Substances can take effect quickly and can make it harder to communicate
- Be cautious when asking strangers for help – if you are alone, ask security staff or venue staff to help you
- If you need urgent help, call 999 or have the person caring for you take you to A&E, telling them you think you’ve been drugged
If you think you or your friend have been spiked, it is important to contact the police as this is illegal. The police may ask for a sample of your blood or urine to test, to find out if drugs have been used. You must be tested as soon as possible if you think your drink was spiked as most drugs leave your body within 12 – 72 hours.
What can we do to prevent this?
Although it shouldn’t be our responsibility to stop these types of actions, this article has several safety tips to protect yourself and your friends against drink spiking.
In response to recent events, women across the UK are calling for nightclubs to impose stricter measures, such as bag searches and more staff training.
Also, Instagram pages called ‘Girls Night In’ that represent over 30 different cities across the UK already have thousands of likes. But don’t let the name fool you – this is a movement for all genders! While women make up the majority affected by spiking, this is an issue that impacts all of us.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVTRBFzt9U4/?utm_medium
People are also calling to write open letters to MP’s and clubs across the country. So far, signatures have surpassed 100,000, meaning that parliament will have to debate this issue. If you want to get involved please follow the link to sign this petition via this Parliament Petition
We hope that you have found this Fumble article informative and useful. Remember, clubbing is supposed to be a fun experience that you enjoy – just make sure that you are taking the necessary precautions, stay safe and look after your friends!
If you or someone you know has been affected by this story, please head to Drinkaware for more information on drink spiking. You can call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or find help via their website.
Read more:
https://fumble.org.uk/5-step-guide-to-inappropriate-behaviour-on-campus/
Last reviewed 10 November 2021
