“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 also be for malicious purposes (e.g., to cause fear or make someone more vulnerable to another crime) or non-malicious but equally dangerous purposes (e.g., to make someone have a “more fun” night).
It is never your fault if you have been spiked. Blame lies solely with the perpetrator.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, medical advisor to Drinkaware, offers the following practical advice:
"If your drink has been spiked it's unlikely that you will see, smell or taste any difference. Most date rape drugs take effect within 15-30 minutes and symptoms usually last for several hours. If you start to feel strange or more drunk than you should be, then get help straight away."