Spiking: advice and support
Find out what to do if you are spiked, or are with someone who has been, and where to get more information.
If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police.
Spiking is a crime. You have the right not to be spiked:
- you have the right to decide what you eat and drink and what goes into your body
- you should not have to change your behaviour to avoid being spiked
- you should not have to avoid bars or clubs or cover your drink at all times
Recognise spiking
Spiking can make you seriously ill. The signs you should look out for in yourself or someone you are with include:
- confusion and disorientation
- nausea and vomiting
- hallucinations and paranoia
- poor co-ordination and vision
- an inability to communicate clearly
- memory loss and blackouts
If you’ve been spiked
We want you to have the confidence to come forward and report these crimes and know that you will be believed when you do. Do not feel embarrassed about reporting spiking – it is not your fault it happened. That is true whether you are a woman or a man – spiking can happen to anyone.
Get medical help
If you feel unwell, get medical help as soon as possible by calling 999 or 111. Ask the people you are with or the staff in a venue to help you access medical help.
Report it
Do report the spiking to the police: call 999 or 101 as soon as possible. Some drugs leave the body quite quickly – in less than 12 hours.
To report spiking:
- call the police on 999 or 101 depending on the seriousness of the incident and its impact: ask the people you are with or the staff in a venue to help you call the police
- report it online if this is available in your area: look on the police force’s website to check if they provide this service – you can either give your name or make an anonymous report
The police will be able to help you. There are different sources of evidence which may be available to them including evidence of a substance in your body, CCTV footage or witness testimony.
Spiking is a serious crime, and the police will want to hear about it. That is true whether or not you went on to experience a further crime. The police will understand you and believe you.
Report the incident as quickly as possible. Reporting early makes it more likely that when the police test you they will find evidence of the drug, which makes a successful prosecution more likely.
But if for any reason you cannot report it early, do still report it: there may still be enough evidence to bring a prosecution. It will also give the police useful intelligence to help them prevent future incidents.
If you are concerned about reporting
It is not a crime to have illegal drugs in your system (unless you are driving), so please do not let that stop you reporting that you have been spiked.
If the spiking happened in a private home, you won’t get your hosts into trouble by reporting (unless they were the ones who spiked you). It is the person who did the spiking who committed the crime.
If you think you have been sexually assaulted
Go to your nearest sexual assault referral centre (SARC) for specialist care and support.
SARCs provide medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused. Their services include:
- crisis care
- medical and forensic examinations
- emergency contraception
- testing for sexually transmitted infections
They can also arrange access to an independent sexual violence adviser and can refer you to mental health support and sexual violence support services.
You can also access the services from voluntary organisations, such as the 24/7 rape and sexual abuse support line 0808 500 2222 and online chat service run by Rape Crisis England and Wales.
What happens when you report spiking to the police
The police follow clear procedures when you report an incident of spiking.
If you feel comfortable talking about what happened, the police will ask you to go over 4 main things:
- what happened?
- where did it happen?
- when did it happen?
- do you know who might have done it?
The police may take a non-invasive urine sample. Because some drugs leave the body in a very short time (in less than 12 hours), it’s important to test as soon as possible.
Other drugs remain in the body longer, so the police may still take a sample up to 7 days after the incident. The test results will come back within 3 weeks and they will discuss them with you.
The test done by the police is the most effective way of finding out whether you have been spiked – it can detect over a hundred different types of drugs.
Do not rely on self-testing kits as these may not be as effective and may weaken building a case against a perpetrator.
If you’re with someone who has been spiked
If a friend, relative or colleague you are with has been spiked, they may be seriously unwell, and unable to make decisions for themselves. Help them to get medical help, by calling 999 or 111.
If you are in a venue, approach the staff for help. They may be able to help your friend get medical assistance.
Once your friend has been seen by medical professionals, it is important to report the spiking to the police. Your friend may not be well enough to do this. You can report the spiking to the police for them.
If you are in a venue, the staff may also be able to help you report the spiking to the police.
Stay with your friend to make sure that they are all right. If they are well enough, escort them home.
If you witness spiking
If you see a drink being spiked before someone drinks it, tell them – it is important that they do not drink it.
Tell the venue staff which person was responsible so they can find the perpetrator and call the police.
Stay until the police come so you can give them your evidence about what you saw. If you cannot, contact the police separately.
If you do not actually see someone spiking a drink, but notice someone behaving suspiciously, tell the venue staff.
If you see that someone has been spiked, particularly if they do not obviously have friends helping them, offer whatever help you can. For example, you can talk to venue staff on their behalf.
Get more information and support
Life Stuff – facts and information about spiking for young adults
Victim Support – support line for victims of crime: 08 08 16 89 111, online form or live chat service