Even though we think we are aware of drink spiking, we are not. This is a growing problem and shows no signs of slowing down.


Monday 12 March 2007

What is Drink Spiking?

Source: www.reachout.com

I think this information is very relevant and is very informative.

Drink spiking is when alcohol or another drug is added to your drink without you knowing. This results in you becoming drunk or drug affected unexpectedly.

The effects of drink spiking depend on a number of things, including your size, weight and the amount of combination of the drugs used. You can become unconscious, not be able to defend yourself, or remember what happened. People may spike your drink as a prank or with the intent assaulting, robbing, sexually assaulting you.

Alcohol is the most common drug used in drink spiking. It may be done either by having alcohol added to non-alcoholic drinks or adding shots of spirits to alcoholic drinks to make them stronger.

Depressant drugs, especially sedatives can be used to spike drinks. These drugs are usually used to relax the body or help people sleep. Combined with alcohol they can have very strong effects. This may result in you feeling very drunk and mean that can’t remember some or all events that took place after you were drugged.

The drug’s effects can start within 15 to 30 minutes, and can last up to 8 hours or longer, depending on the amount used and how much alcohol you have drunk. Effects include feeling sleepy, dizzy or drowsy, loss of motor skills, muscle relaxation, slurred speech, memory loss, impaired judgment, loss of inhibition, loss of consciousness, visual problems and nausea.

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) can cause amnesia, impair movement and speech, and can be added to drinks without visible trace. GHB is also known as ‘fantasy’, ‘grievous bodily harm (GBH), liquid ecstasy and ‘liquid E’. It comes as a colourless, odourless, bitter or salty-tasting liquid, or as a crystal powder. GHB has been used medically as a general anaesthetic and to treat sleep disorders. The effects of GHB include hallucinations, extreme drowsiness, vomiting, convulsions or seizures, and unconsciousness or abrupt short-term coma. GHB is a dangerous drug in itself. Mixed with alcohol, the harmful effects are stronger.

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