Spiking is when someone gives another person a substance without their knowledge or consent.
It most commonly involves adding alcohol or drugs to someone’s drink—for example, adding extra alcohol to make a drink stronger or adding drugs to incapacitate someone. Food, cigarettes and vapes can also be spiked.
Spiking can also involve injecting a substance into someone using a syringe.
There is a wide range of reasons why people may spike others, but the most common are:
- 'for a laugh'
- Robbery
- assault
- cause injury
- sexual assault
Spiking someone’s drink is a crime. The responsibility and fault is always with the person spiking a drink. It is never your fault if your drink has been spiked.
You may feel unsure about reporting, particularly if you have used alcohol or drugs voluntarily. Do not let this stop you from seeking help. It is not a crime to have illegal drugs in your system unless you are driving; the person who spiked you is responsible for the offence. Reporting early may help police preserve evidence, including forensic samples, CCTV footage and witness accounts.
Although medical help should be the priority, reporting to the police as soon as possible may help preserve forensic evidence. Police may ask for a urine or blood sample for forensic testing. Healthcare professionals may carry out tests to help treat symptoms; if sexual assault is a concern, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre can also provide specialist care and forensic support. Some substances leave the body quickly, but it is still important to report even if time has passed. More information about how Police collect evidence in spiking cases can be found here.
The symptoms of spiking can vary as it can depend on the type and amount of the substance that has been used. Symptoms may look like someone who has had too much alcohol.
Symptoms may include but are not limited to:
- Sudden signs of intoxication
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Tiredness
- Difficulty walking or moving
- Feeling sick or vomiting
- Hallucinating
- Blurred vision or other visual impairment
- Confusion - especially the next day or days after
- Memory loss - especially around recent events
- Behaviour that is out of character
- Changes in speech
- A sharp or sudden pain, or an unexplained puncture wound or bruise
- Paranoia
Symptoms can take effect within 15-30 minutes, lasting for several hours. Short term impacts can vary depending on the spiking substance.
It is not possible to tell if you have had your drink spiked without testing for it. This is because a number of substances have no taste, smell, colour and don't tend to leave any residue.
However there may be some visual indicators of a spiked drink, however the appearance of the drink is not a reliable way to tell if it has been spiked.
- Discolouration or colours in the drink that aren't usually present.
- It looks cloudy.
- Bubbles or fizzing in still drinks.
- Fizzy drinks becoming flat quickly.
- The liquid is separating.
If you think you may have been spiked by injection, you may notice an unexplained puncture wound, bleeding or bruising.
These signs do not confirm that spiking has taken place, so seek medical advice if you are concerned.