If you think you’ve been spiked by drink or a needle, act quickly, and follow these steps provided by national anti-drug advisory service Frank:
- If you start to feel strange, sick or inexplicably drunk, seek help from a trusted friend or the venue management. Make sure you can trust the person you ask for help. Don’t go anywhere with a stranger or acquaintance.
- If you think you’ve been spiked, get a close friend to get you out of the place as soon as possible and take you home or to hospital (if seriously unwell). Or ring a friend, relative or partner and ask them to come and pick you up.
- If you feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened, you can ask for help by approaching venue staff and asking them for ‘Angela’. This code phrase indicates that you need help, and a trained member of staff will then support and assist you.
- Once safely home, ask someone to stay with you until the effects of the drug have worn off, which could be several hours.
- Don’t hesitate to call for medical help if you need it. And do tell the police what happened.
These steps also apply if you notice someone is showing symptoms of spiking. Stay with them and don’t be afraid to call 999 if their condition deteriorates.