The Partnership to End Addiction survey reports that around 8% of college students say they have been victims of drink spiking – and the majority of them are women. This is a problem that needs to be addressed because it can have such serious consequences.
What does spiking a drink mean?
There are a few different ways that people can spike drinks. The most common is to add alcohol to someone’s drink without them knowing. This can be done by pouring alcohol into their drink when they’re not looking or by adding it to a punch bowl or other mixed drink. Another way to spike a drink is to add drugs to it. This can be done for malicious reasons, like trying to incapacitate someone to steal from them or take advantage of them in a sexual way, or for less nefarious reasons, like simply trying to get someone high.
Either way, it’s important to be aware of what’s in your drink and never leave it unattended.
How common is drink spiking?
According to the Office on Women’s Health, date-rape substances like Rohypnol, GHB, and ketamine are utilized because they are difficult to detect, and victims frequently do not remember being drugged or molested until many hours later.
The American Addiction Centers surveyed 969 persons and found that 44% of men and 56% of women had accidentally consumed spiked alcoholic beverages or food. Furthermore, 37% of those in this category had their drinks or meals spiked more than once.
What kind of drugs are used in drink spiking?
Aside from the drugs that have already been mentioned in this article, there are also other types of substances that are used:
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Burunganda
- Ecstasy
- Ethanol
- Hypnotics
- LSD
- Methamphetamines
- Midazolam
- Muscle relaxants
- Temazepam
- Valium
What are the effects of drink spiking?
Drink spiking is the act of adding drugs or alcohol to someone’s drink without their knowledge. The effects of drink spiking depend on the type of drug or alcohol that was used. Some signs that your drink has been spiked are:
- Memory loss
- Breathing problems
- Mental confusion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Speech difficulties
- Loss of inhibition
- Feeling drunker than expected
Drink spiking is a serious problem, and it is important to be aware of the risks before consuming alcohol.
How do you prevent drink spiking?
There are a few things you can do to prevent drink spiking.
- Always keep your drink with you and don’t leave it unattended. If you need to go to the bathroom or somewhere else, take your drink with you.
- Don’t accept drinks from strangers. If someone offers you a drink, make sure that you see them open it and pour it yourself.
- Be aware of your surroundings and who is around you. If you start to feel strange after drinking, tell someone immediately and get help.
What can someone be charged with for spiking a drink?
It is illegal to spike someone else’s drink. The kind of substance used and the location of the offense determine the level of charges that can be brought against an offender.
For instance, forcing someone to use marijuana is a fourth-degree felony unless the claimed victim is a pregnant woman, in which case it is a third-degree felony. If the drug used was a Schedule I or II substance and the offense occurred close to a school, the conduct may be charged as a first-degree felony.
Jail time also depends on what state the crime has been committed and the degree of felony.