If you have experienced spiking or believe that you may have been spiked, it’s important to remember that what happened is not your fault. It doesn’t matter what the situation was or what you were doing beforehand, your safety and wellbeing and the most important things right now.
What to do if you think you’ve been spiked If you have been spiked, it’s important to act quickly. It may not be possible to access this support immediately after being spiked, but it’s important to try and remember these if you ever find yourself in that situation.
- Tell or call someone you trust, such as a close friend or family member and ask them to stay with you or come and meet you
- Tell the bar staff you’re feeling unsafe or vulnerable
- Try to find a safe place or ask your trusted person to help
- Be wary of accepting help from anyone you don’t know or feel unsafe with, including people who may have been buying you drinks
- If you feel unwell, go to the nearest A&E department and let staff know you feel you may have been spiked
- If you are not unwell, you can ask your trusted friend or relative to take you home and stay with you until the effects have worn off
If you believe you have been spiked, you should report it to the police. You can report to the police by visiting your local police station. If you report to the police, they may ask for blood and urine samples. This can be daunting, but you can take a trusted friend or relative with you for support. If you feel vulnerable or feel you are in immediate danger, please call emergency services.
What to do if someone else has been spiked If someone you know has been spiked, it’s important to make sure they are safe until the effects have worn off.
- Stay with them
- Alert venue or bar staff if you feel safe to do so
- Keep talking to them and reassure them that you are there and everything will be OK
- Don’t let them go home on their own or with someone you don’t know or trust
- Encourage them not to use any more drugs or alcohol
- If their condition deteriorates, call an ambulance on 999
- Make sure they have their belongings with them in case anything has been stolen
- Be aware that they may be affected by physical or sexual assault and may need trauma-informed support
University support services
- Report + Support allows students and staff to report incidents either anonymously or with contact details for follow-up. The service also provides information on a range of different incidents, along with both internal and external support services.
- Student Wellbeing Services can provide information and advice to help support students for a number of issues and direct them to more specialist support services. They also have a counselling service which provides one-to-one, confidential support for students, in the form of short-term counselling or referral to specialised support services.
- The Advice Hub offer free, impartial and confidential advice to students about a range of issues, including mental health and wellbeing.
- Respect Ambassadors are staff members who can provide confidential guidance and support to staff who have witnessed or experienced inappropriate behaviour or are having a difficult time.
- Care First is a health package for staff, which offers support for a range of practical and emotional issues, as well as one-to-one counselling sessions.
Scottish Campuses and UK Specific:
If you believe you have been spiked, you should report it to the police. 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 report to the police, they may ask for blood and urine samples. This can be daunting, but you can take a trusted friend or relative with you for support.
If you feel vulnerable or feel you are in immediate danger, please call 999.