If you or someone else is unconscious, having difficulty breathing, having a seizure, or is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you feel unwell, seek medical help as soon as possible by calling 111 or 999.
We recognise that, if you have been spiked, you may not be able to follow the steps below. The most important thing is to ensure that you are with someone and get to a safe place.
If you are with someone who you think has been spiked, help them to get support and do not leave them alone.
Spiking is never your fault. It can be a very scary experience, but we are here to support you
- Are you in immediate danger or need urgent medical help? If you are in immediate danger or have been seriously injured, call the emergency services on 999 (or 112 from a mobile phone). Report and Support is not an emergency reporting tool.
- Find a safe space. Tell someone you trust, ask them to stay with you or to take you to a safe place. If you cannot do this, speak to either staff at the establishment you are at, or call the police.
- Call Campus Security if you are on campus - 01227 823333.
- You do not have to decide what to do immediately. You can access support without making a formal report, see the Support section below for more information.
- If you are in a bar or club, tell a member of staff what has happened. If the venue participates in the Ask for Angela scheme, you can ask for “Angela” to request help discreetly.
- Do not leave the venue alone or with someone you don’t know or trust.
- Stop. If you think your drink has been spiked, stop drinking it. Do not drink any more alcohol or take any recreational drugs.
- Seek medical advice. If you think you have been needle spiked, when you are able to do so, seek prompt medical advice through 111, A&E or a sexual health service.
- Consider reporting the spiking as soon as you feel able. Some substances can leave the body quickly, reporting promptly may provide more opportunities for forensic testing. You can still report what happened if some time has passed or if you do not want to provide a sample. See the Reporting section below for options for reporting to the University, the Police or anonymously.
- Keep any information or evidence, if it is safe and you feel comfortable doing so. This could include items such as the the bottle or glass you were drinking from. Do not put yourself at risk to collect evidence.
- Look after your wellbeing. You may feel shocked, frightened, angry, numb or unsure how you feel. These are all understandable responses.
If you are concerned you have been sexually assaulted, you can contact a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). If it is out of hours, you can ask to speak with a University Sexual Assault Responder via Campus Security. The Specialist Wellbeing Team at the university can also provide support.
Please go to our Sexual Misconduct page for more information here.
Whilst the physical effects of being spiked may wear off, the emotional impact can continue.
You may feel:
- Scared, confused or unsure about what happened
- Anxious about going out or being around other people
- A general feeling of anxiety or unease
- Self-blame
It is never your fault if you have been spiked. You may feel alone, but support is available and you do not have to manage these feelings on your own.
- Specialist Wellbeing Team During office hours you can speak with the Specialist Wellbeing Team. The team provide practical support and advice to anyone who reports an incident (support available at both Medway and Canterbury). You can book an appointment with the Specialist Wellbeing Team by emailing KentSSW@kent.ac.uk, or by calling 01227 82 3158 from Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
- Counselling Service Students are able to access support from our counselling team within Student Support and Wellbeing. Counselling offers you a safe space to address the impact that an incident has had upon you. All counsellors are fully qualified members of BACP, BABCP, or UKCP, and adhere to ethical guidelines. Counselling can be accessed by emailing: counselling@kent.ac.uk or by calling +44 (01227 823206).
- Mental Health and Wellbeing We have Mental Health Advisers, who can offer mental health advice and support if you have found your mental health to be impacted following an incident. If you feel you need urgent support, please phone 01227 826573 or email KentSSW@kent.ac.uk and ask for an on-the-day appointment.
- SpectrumLife Offering in the moment support via online, text or telephone. Telephone 0800 0318227 and press option 1, or text/whatsapp 'Hi' to +44 (0)7418 360780.
- Police If you are in immediate danger, call 999, or 101 to report a non-emergency. Reporting as soon as possible may help preserve evidence, including forensic samples, CCTV footage and witness accounts. However, you can still report the incident later if you are not ready or able to do so immediately.
- Report and Support. Report and Support is the University’s online reporting tool. You can choose to make an anonymous report or request support from an adviser. Requesting support does not automatically start a formal complaint. You can receive confidential support without making a formal report. The option you choose determines what happens next: anonymous reports help the University understand patterns and concerns, while requesting adviser support allows an adviser to contact you to discuss your options. No formal investigation will be triggered without your consent, but you can still access support.
- University Procedure. If you would like to discuss your options informally before deciding if you want to make a formal complaint to the university, you can do so by submitting a named Report and Support report. Further details can be found on the Student Appeals, Conduct and Complaints page along with the steps and procedures to follow if you choose to make a formal complaint.
- Reporting Anonymously via Crimestoppers. If you are worried about a reporting process, and would prefer to report anonymously, you can report to Crimestoppers. Crimestoppers are an independent charity that gives people the power to speak up and stop crime, 100% anonymously. Crimestoppers will send your report to the local police force. You can find additional information about this here. Crimestoppers is not a substitute for calling 999 in an emergency.
Find out more about drink spiking on the Drinkaware website