CoverurCup - Drink spiking awareness page

22/02/2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSQ-8ksGHOI

Maaate, here's the story of when my drink was spiked (roofied) on a night out at uni, and how it could have gone so wrong. Stay safe kids! SUBSCRIBE NOW| htt...

22/02/2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1mqS43ImNw

Subscribe now for more! http://bit.ly/1JM41yF Two university students talk to Holly and Phillip about their drinks getting spiked during freshers week. Broad...

22/02/2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qlmzh03oYw

Hope you found this video interesting to watch! It was great to see so many people speaking up. We filmed 8 scenes with Leah as the victim with all but one s...

06/02/2019

What to do If you have been sexually assaulted after drink spiking

If you have been sexually assaulted, you should get medical attention as soon as possible.

You may need tests to determine whether you have any sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or whether you're pregnant.

You don't have to report an attack to the police immediately if you don't want to.

You can contact any of the following places for advice, treatment or referral to a specialist service (such as a forensic examination):

a sexual assault referral centre
a doctor or practice nurse at your GP surgery
a voluntary organisation, such as R**e Crisis
the R**e and Sexual Abuse Support Centre national freephone helpline on 0808 802 9999 (12 to 2.30pm and 7 to 9.30pm every day of the year)
a hospital A&E department
a sexual health clinic
a young people's service
NHS 111

31/01/2019

Here is a news article from sky news, telling the stories of people who have been victims of drink spiking.

Drink spiking: More victims tell their harrowing stories

28/01/2019

How to avoid drink spiking

Some clubs give out drink stoppers for the top of your bottle to prevent someone dropping something in your drink. There are also testing kits with strips that detect certain drugs but these do not test for all types of drugs and often do not work2.

Don’t forget that these won’t detect extra alcohol in your drink.

Drink spiking can happen in any situation. However, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself.

Dr Jarvis advises: “Get into the habit of never leaving your drink unattended and don’t accept a drink from someone you don’t know. Keep an eye on your drink at all times – don’t go off and dance then come back and drink the rest. Avoid drinking too much alcohol by sticking to the UK Chief Medical Officers' (CMO) low risk drinking guidelines of 14 units a week for both men and women. This will put you in the best position to be alert to anything suspicious and able to look out for your friends.”

23/01/2019

Here is a short video highlighting how easy it is for someone to spike your drink. This video has been designed to be hard hitting and some people might find it disturbing.

Fixer Hayley Glover (20) from Devon wants people to be extra careful when drinking... for a slightly different reason. The content of this advert is designed...

23/01/2019

How to avoid drink spiking

If your drink has been spiked, it's unlikely that you'll see, smell or taste any difference. Some drugs, such as GHB, may taste slightly salty or smell unusual.

If you start to feel strange or more drunk than you should be, get help immediately.

The following steps may help prevent drink spiking:

Never leave your drink unattended, and keep an eye on your friends' drinks.
Don't accept a drink from someone you don't know.
Consider sticking to bottled drinks and avoiding punch bowls or jugs of cocktails.
Don't give out your address to someone you have just met.
If you think your drink's been tampered with, don't drink it – tell a trusted friend or relative immediately.
Before going out, let someone know where you're going and what time you expect to be home.
Make plans for your journey home.
Avoid taking expensive equipment with you or anything that could be a target for thieves.
If you're travelling abroad, be aware of the local area and where you can find help.
Some bars provide plastic stopper devices, such as lids to put on bottles, which can reduce the risk of your drink being spiked.

But these stoppers won't stop you consuming a drink that's been spiked with additional alcohol.

They may also provide kits to test your drink, but these don't test for every kind of drug and often don't work.

23/01/2019

How do I know if my drink's been spiked?

Most date r**e drugs take effect within 30 minutes, and symptoms usually last for several hours.

But if you pass out, it'll be hard to know the full effect. You may still feel some of the symptoms of a date r**e drug after a night's sleep.

Although your symptoms will depend on which substance has been used, they usually include some of the following:

lowered inhibitions
difficulty concentrating or speaking
loss of balance and finding it hard to move
visual problems, particularly blurred vision
memory loss (amnesia) or "blackouts"
feeling confused or disorientated, particularly after waking up (if you have been asleep)
paranoia (a feeling of fear or distrust of others)
hallucinations (seeing, hearing or touching things that aren't there) or having an "out of body" experience
nausea and vomiting
unconsciousness

23/01/2019

What substances are used to spike drinks?

Alcohol is the most common substance used to spike drinks.

It can be added to a soft (non-alcoholic) drink without you knowing, or double measures can be used instead of singles.

Drugs used in drink spiking are often referred to as date r**e drugs, although they're not always used for sexual assault.

Some examples of drugs that have reportedly been used for drink spiking include:

gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)
tranquillisers, most often benzodiazepines, including Va**um (diazepam) and Rohypnol
ketamine
Date r**e drugs are particularly dangerous when mixed with alcohol because they combine to have a very powerful effect.

In extreme cases, it can lead to a coma or even death.

Date r**e drugs may come in powder, tablet or liquid form, and don't always have a noticeable taste or smell.

22/01/2019

Is drink spiking illegal?

Drink spiking may be done with the intent of stealing from the victim, assaulting the victim, or as a prank.

Whatever the reason, drink spiking is illegal and can result in a maximum of 10 years in prison for anyone who's found guilty.

If an assault, r**e or robbery has also taken place, the sentence will be even higher.

Sexual assault is an act that's carried out without the victim's active consent. This means they didn't agree to it, even if they have taken drugs or alcohol voluntarily.

22/01/2019

Drink spiking and date r**e drugs

Every year in the UK, hundreds of people are thought to be victims of drink spiking, where alcohol or drugs are added to someone's drink without them knowing.

In some cases, so-called "date r**e drugs" may be used to spike a drink before a sexual assault.

Many more incidents happen abroad or go unreported because of embarrassment or memory loss.