What to do if your drink has been spiked

Trigger warning: This article discusses non-consensual drug use and has mentions of sexual assault. 

This is an article no one wants to have to read, but unfortunately, we have seen more cases of drink spiking appearing in the news recently.

While there are relatively few confirmed reports of drink spiking each year in New Zealand, we know that many people may face barriers to reporting it to Police or seeking care. Drink spiking is often devastating and destabilising for people who have experienced it.

What is drink spiking? 

Drink spiking is where someone is given drugs unknowingly.

Drugs commonly used in drink spiking are ones that make people intoxicated quickly such as GHB/GBL, ketamine, Rohypnol or benzos. Many of these drugs come in liquid form, which can make it difficult to notice if they are put into a drink.

Drink spiking can also refer to situations where someone secretly adds extra alcohol to a person’s drink. Drink spiking often occurs in bars, clubs and parties, but can happen anywhere. 

Many cases of drink spiking also involve sexual assault or attempted sexual assault – this is sometimes known as ‘drug-assisted sexual assault’. The common assumption is that only strangers will spike your drink. Unfortunately, cases of drink spiking can also occur between friends, partners and relatives. 

Drink spiking is drink spiking, whether it was done by a stranger or by someone you know. 

What should I do if I think my drink has been spiked? 

One of the most common questions we get asked when someone believes their drink has been spiked is ‘what do I do next?’

Reporting drink spiking incidents can be daunting and stressful, and people sometimes tell us they feel ashamed or worried they won’t be believed. We did some research to shed light on what to do after a drink spiking incident and what to expect from the services you encounter.

Most importantly, acting quickly is key. 

Regardless of whether you call 111, go to a police station or to an emergency department (or after-hours emergency care clinic) it is important to act as quickly as possible. The sooner you can be tested for drugs in your system, the more likely it is that they will be detected. Many drugs are eliminated from your system very quickly, from a few hours to a few days.  

Make sure you are physically safe. 

1. If you feel unsafe or in danger, call 111. 
   
   
2. If you are feeling unwell or are showing signs of an overdose (see this article on how to spot an overdose), get help immediately and call 111. Some drugs used in drink spiking can be dangerous in higher doses, and can interact with alcohol, medicines or other drugs you may have taken. 
   
   
3. If you have been sexually harmed or assaulted (or suspect you might have been), it is important to get medical attention as soon as possible. You can call 111 and they will talk you through where to go next. If you feel more comfortable, you can also go directly to the emergency department at the nearest hospital. 
   
   
4. Many parts of New Zealand have a dedicated sexual assault service. You can find a specialist sexual assault service near you on the Medical Sexual Assault Clinicians Aotearoa website or ask the Police to refer you.

You can call, message or text the confidential sexual harm helpline and they will support and guide you to your local services. 

Keep whatever evidence you can. 

• If you need to pee before you go to the police or seek medical attention, collect a small amount (about 10-30mls) in a clean, sealable container (like a plastic water bottle or a jar) and bring it with you. 
  
  
• If you can, bring the drink you suspect was spiked with you and any other items that you think may be important. 
  
  
• If there was sexual assault involved, bring the clothing you were wearing at the time, including your underwear.  It is important not to wash or shower, change your clothes, brush your teeth or wipe yourself after going to the toilet until you have spoken to the doctor or nurse at the hospital or sexual assault service. 
  
  
• Keeping note of what happened and at what time can be helpful. The people who were with you may be able to help you write this down.

If you choose to involve the Police, ideally do so ASAP. 

It can feel overwhelming going to the Police, but it is really important to report the incident as soon as possible so they can act quickly. This means Police will have the best chance of accessing evidence, such as CCTV footage and information from witnesses.

• You can call 111 or go to your local Police station and make the report directly.
   
• You can bring a support person/people with you when you talk to the Police. People often find it helpful to have someone else there to remember information the officer tells you - which can sometimes be hard to do when you are feeling overwhelmed or upset. 
  
  
• If you were with a friend when the incident happened, it is a good idea to bring them with you so they can let the officers know what they remember. 

Get a urine or blood drug test done. 

Whether you go to the hospital or police first, they will almost always get you to do a urine or blood drug test. This is to identify any drugs in your system that your drink may have been spiked with. The earlier these tests are done, the more likely they are to detect these drugs. 

It’s important you let Police and medical professionals know what else you may have taken (including alcohol, medicines and other drugs) so they can gather the best evidence possible. 

Do they do other testing if a sexual assault happened? 

If there was sexual assault involved (or suspected) a medical professional may also take swabs for evidence and do a physical examination. You may be given post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medications which reduce your risk of developing STIs and may be given an emergency contraceptive. The doctor or nurse will talk you through the process and answer any questions or worries you might have. 

The doctor or nurse will also give you information on further support you can access. Medical professionals won’t do any test or examination without your consent. These services are available to people of any gender. 

The Police and health services will follow up with you. 

After the initial report of the incident and any testing done by the lab or hospital, you will usually be allowed to go home. It is a good idea to have someone you trust take you home and stay with you. 

The Police will continue to follow up with you on how the case is progressing and may get you to come back to your local station to answer more questions. You will be informed about the results of any tests that were done by health services. This includes the result of your blood or urine drug tests and any screening that was done for STIs. 

 

Some Commonly Asked Questions 

What support services are available to me?

Cases of drink spiking or drug-assisted sexual assault can bring up lots of emotions, trauma and anxiety. For many people, it can take a long time to process these emotions, and it is important to know what support services are available to help you. 

• The Mental Health Foundation has a variety of resources and support lines for people experiencing mental health distress, you can find them on their website.
  
  
• New Zealand has several different resources for people who have experienced sexual assault, including your local crisis support service, Safe to Talk or Help. You can also find a local support service in your area on the Rape Prevention Education website. 
  
  
• If you have reported a case of sexual assault to the police or hospital, they may also have services they can refer you to directly. You can also ask for information about getting support, including counselling, via ACC - these services are called ‘sensitive claims’. 
  
  
• SoundCheck Aotearoa offers a sexual harm prevention and response advisory (SHAPRA) service for sexual harm that happens in the context of the music industry. This can be used by anyone who has experienced harm or concerned friends and whānau, and members of the public. SoundCheck can also help workplaces responding to a situation and those seeking advice on how to prevent harm from occurring. Find more information on their website.

Do I have to report the case to the Police?

You do not have to report a case to the Police. This is your choice and cannot get in the way of the care you receive from health services, such as a sexual assault service or hospital. 

If you decide at any time you want to report the case to the police, you can visit your local station or call 105.  

In New Zealand there is no time limit on when you can report a sexual assault case, even if it happened a long time ago.

 

If the Police don’t find anything, does that mean it didn’t happen?

In some cases, drug testing does not identify any drugs in your system or in your drink, or a sexual assault examination is not able to find evidence. This does not mean that nothing happened. You should always be believed, regardless of whether the Police are able to find physical evidence. 

Unfortunately, many drugs used in drink spiking cases are tricky to test for and are often processed quickly by your body, meaning that they are sometimes gone from your system before testing can be done. 

 

Is there anything I can do to reduce the risk of my drink being spiked?

First and foremost, it’s super important that we say, it is never someone’s fault that their drink has been spiked. Regardless of where you were, what you did or who you were with, it is always the fault of the person who caused harm. But with more drink spiking cases being reported in New Zealand, there are things you can do that can reduce the risk. 

It is important to remember that you often will not be able to see or taste drugs that have been put in your drink, so you can’t rely on your senses to tell you whether a drink is OK or not. 

• Don’t leave your drink unattended - take it with you wherever you go, including to the toilet 
  
  
• Be cautious of who you accept drinks from - it is best to order your drink yourself and watch the bartender make it. If you are at a party or other event, consider bringing your own drinks in cans and bottles so you aren’t leaving open bottles or vessels unattended. 
  
  
• If in doubt, throw it out - if you’ve lost track of your drink or accept a drink from someone and you are unsure about it, it is safest to just to toss it out. 
  
  
• Stick with your mates and have a plan - It is safest to go out with people you trust so you can look out for one another. Have a chat with your mates before going out and make a plan for how you are going to get home and what you’ll do if someone gets in a tricky situation. 
  
  
• Take precautions if going out alone or with people you don’t know well - whether you are going solo to a gig, or on a date with someone new, you’re more vulnerable when you aren’t with people you trust. Tell a trusted person where you are and when you plan to be home. Make sure you have a fully charged phone with you and consider sharing your location with a friend or whānau member by using apps such as Find my Friend or Life 360. If you start to feel uncomfortable for any reason, don’t be afraid to seek help from a security guard, bartender or Police. 
  
  
• Ask for Angela - many bar staff in New Zealand know if you ‘Ask to speak with Angela’ that this means you are in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation. This is a good code if you aren’t sure how to ask for help. You can read more about Ask for Angela on the campaign's website.

If reading this article brings up emotions or trauma for you, help is available. Contact Safe To Talk at 0800 044 334 or Help on 0800 623 1700 

Featured image by Sérgio Alves Santos on Unsplash