Spiking may be a one-off event, or it may be used to commit further crimes, like robbery or violence. It can also be used to compromise someone’s ability to consent to sexual activity. This is sometimes known as drug-assisted sexual violence or ‘date rape’. Drugs and alcohol can lower inhibitions and reduce a person’s ability to resist an assault or prevent them from remembering details of the assault. Anyone who has been spiked may be unable to fully understand and consent to any form of sexual activity.
Anyone who has been assaulted after being spiked, or after voluntarily taking using drugs or alcohol is not responsible for what has happened to them. The blame always lies with the abuser.
Reporting drug-assisted sexual violence If you have been sexually assaulted and think you may have spiked, it’s important to remember that it is not your fault. You may be afraid to report what has happened because you were drinking or taking drugs beforehand. However, it’s important to report any form of sexual violence as soon as possible, so it can be properly investigated.
If you have experienced sexual violence, reporting can be daunting and having to relive the events can be very difficult. However, it is important to report any instance of sexual violence as soon as possible.
You can report to the police by visiting your local police station.
If you require medical treatment or you believe that you may have experienced drug-assisted sexual violence in the past 7 days, you should contact your local medical services to seek support and arrange care for you in the days following the assault.
If you are currently unsafe or are in immediate danger, you should contact the police immediately
Scottish Campuses and UK Specific:
You can report to the police by visiting your local police station, online, or by calling 101. You can also report anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
If you believe that you may have experienced drug-assisted sexual violence in the past 7 days, you can contact SARCS on 0800 148 88 88 to arrange a forensic examination. They can also provide support and arrange care for you in the days following the assault.
If you are currently unsafe or are in immediate danger, please call 999. If you require medical treatment, you can contact the ambulance service on 999 or visit your local Accident & Emergency department. The nearest A&E unit for Edinburgh is located at The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the nearest Minor Injuries unit is located at Western General Hospital in Craigleith. Those in the Scottish Borders Campus can access A&E at Borders General Hospital, whilst those in Orkney should attend Balfour Hospital Emergency department.