Spiked

WE'VE all done it girls. We’ve ditched our vodkas to leg it to the dance floor, abandoned our Malibu’s while we nip to the loo and let that handsome stranger buy us a vino. But what if our mysterious stranger had laced it with something sinister?

Last year, 700 people in the UK claimed to have been spiked. Spiking occurs when a mind-altering substance has been added to your drink without your knowledge. Motives include theft and revenge, but the most popular is rape and sexual abuse.

Rohypnol is the most common drug of choice. It is a tasteless pill which can take effect after just 10 minutes. It gained notoriety as the ‘date-rape’ drug after victims were sexually assaulted while unconscious. All traces of the drug disappear after 24 hours making prosecution difficult.
Symptoms of spiking include dizziness, vomiting, slurred speech, memory loss and paranoia.

Kim Roberts, 20 from Sheffield, thought spiking was something that just happened in Hollyoaks. Until she was caught out.

"Me and a girlfriend were out celebrating our exams. Two guys came up to us and offered to buy us drinks. They went to the bar while we carried on dancing.

“After a while, I started to feel sick. The room was spinning and there was two of everything. I don’t remember anything after that. My friend told me the morning after that I had tried to pick a fight with her.

“You see this kind of thing on TV but you never for one minute think you’ll be a victim”.
And it’s not just the ladies who are likely to be drugged. Almost 11% of victims are male.
David Roberts, 23 from Chester, was shocked when he was spiked at his local pub.

“The football on the big screen finished about 8.30pm and that’s the last I can remember.

“I woke the next day with a bucket of sick by my bed. My mates showed me pictures of me completely out of it.

“That type of thing doesn’t usually happen to a bloke. I was winding people up about the footie score so maybe someone wanted revenge”.

The Roofie Foundation is Europe’s only agency dealing with sexual abuse through drink spiking. They offer advice to people who have been targeted.

“Everyone is aware of their personal tolerance to alcohol so if you feel nauseous after a few drinks, tell a friend immediately and get them to take you home”.

“Under no circumstances let a stranger or someone you don’t trust take you home. They could be the person who spiked your drink”.

If you think you’ve had sex under the influence of a date-rape drug, Roofie urge you to go straight to the police.

“Take in the clothes you were wearing and don’t shower. Ask for blood and urine samples to be taken, as they might hold vital evidence”.

And girls, get to your local GUM clinic for advice on the morning after pill and STI’s. Check you still have your bank cards and call the bank to change your pin numbers.

‘Tis the season to be jolly. Just have your wits about you.

Visit http://www.roofie.com/ for more information