Welfare Officer: Drink Spiking in Aberystwyth

Drink Spiking is rearing its ugly head again once more in Aberystwyth and we want to make sure you are aware of symptoms and what to do. 

This is a bit of a long post, but goes into the information you need to know.

Symptoms could include some of the following:

• loss of balance and finding it hard to move
• temporary loss of body sensation
• temporary amnesia (memory loss)
• waking up feeling confused or disorientated, with memory blanks about the night before
• difficulty speaking, or slurring your words
• light headedness or drowsiness
• difficulty focusing/blurred vision
• difficulty concentrating
• nausea and vomiting
• feelings of paranoia, fear or distrust of others
• feeling sleepy, dizzy or faint
• falling unconscious.

Advice to avoid drink spiking:

• Do not leave your drink unattended at any time, even while you are in the toilet.
• If for any reason your drink has been left unattended and when you return it has been moved, looks different, appears to have been topped-up, or tastes strange, don't drink it.
• Avoid going to pubs, clubs, parties alone: Friends can look out for each other.
• Keep your drink in your hand, and hold your thumb over the opening if you are drinking from a bottle.
• Watch your drinks being poured.
• Don’t take drinks from large open containers such as punch bowls.
• Don't drink too much. Remember, alcohol affects your awareness of danger and dulls your instincts, making you more vulnerable.
• Have an awareness of your own alcohol tolerance. Do you feel strange or drunk after one or two drinks when you’d normally feel fine? If so let someone you trust know.
• Never accept a drink from anyone you do not know or trust.
• Do not share or exchange drinks, or drink leftover drinks.
• Whenever possible, drink from a bottle rather than a glass. Drinks in bottles are harder to spike.
• Think carefully before leaving the pub or club with someone you have only just met.
• Plan your journey; know how you are getting home.
• Ensure someone knows where you are and when you are expected home.
• Remain aware of what is going on around you and stay away from situations you do not feel comfortable with.
• Remember drugs can be put in soft drinks, tea, coffee, hot chocolate etc, as well as alcohol.
• If you go on a date, tell a friend or relative where you will be and what time you will be back.
• Do not give private information, such as your address; to anyone you have just met.

What to do if you think you’ve been drugged?

• If you are with a friend you trust ask them to help you home. Be careful who you trust - statistics suggest that many victims know their attacker.
• If you’re in need of urgent assistance call 999.
• If you are alone or with a stranger, go to the venue manager or security and ask them to ring your parents, a friend or, if necessary, contact emergency services. It is important to report the incident as quickly as possible to the police. Drugs can leave the body very quickly, making them harder to detect. The sooner you are tested, the more chance you have of it still being in your system.
• Do not accept help from a stranger - they could be responsible for spiking your drink.
• if you think you've been spiked you should go to a&e and give blood and urine samples to be tested, this may be vital evidence and it allows the police to build a pattern of which substances are being used locally.

If you do wish to speak to someone in the University about Drink Spiking, contact the Wellness Centre on nurse@aber.ac.uk