Spiking
Spiking is giving someone alcohol or drugs without them knowing or agreeing. For example, in their drink or with a needle.
Spiking can happen to anyone anywhere – no matter their age, gender, sexuality or ethnicity. It can be carried out by strangers or by people you know.
Read more about how to report spiking
Most cases of spiking don’t result in sexual assault or theft. But spiking can cause severe distress, emotional harm and anxiety. It can take a long time to recover from someone spiking you.
Spiking can put you at greater risk of injury, theft or assault. It is also dangerous to drive when someone has spiked you. This is why we treat spiking reports as seriously as those of violent, physical attacks.
Spiking is giving someone else drugs or alcohol without their knowledge or permission. For example:
- drink spiking - adding drugs or alcohol to someone else's drink
- needle spiking - injecting drugs into someone else's body with a needle or auto-injector pen
- vape or cigarette spiking - giving someone drugs in a cigarette or e-cigarette
- food spiking - adding drugs to someone's food
Giving someone more alcohol or drugs than they were expecting and consented to is also spiking. For example, giving someone double shots instead of single ones.
It's sensible not to accept a drink from a stranger or leave your drink unattended. But sometimes people get spiked by people they know and trust too.
It can be difficult to know if someone has spiked you. The symptoms vary depending on what someone has spiked you with. They can be similar to having excess alcohol. If you start to feel strange or more drunk than you thought you should be, seek help straight away. If you feel seriously unwell, call 999 or ask someone to get you emergency medical assistance.
There is no right or wrong way to feel. Some victims need emergency medical assistance, others don't. Whatever your situation, we are here for you.