Enjoying night life is a part of many young people’s lives who want to spend good times with friends and meet new people. But what is not fun is when someone ends up getting drugged at a party. And what’s even worse is when nobody knows how to help them. The places you go to party might seem safe, but you cannot know the intentions of everyone there.
So here are a few points to remember that might help you and your friends to have fun and safer times while enjoying night life:
👀 Keep an eye on friends if they accept a drink from a stranger.
🍸 Be attentive to friends’ drinks if they left them for you to keep an eye on.
💥 If you see something suspicious – act straight away to ensure that the drugger will not have a chance to get away.
🧪 Don’t be shy to share a drug testing kit if you have one with you.
📍 Share live location among your friend group.
✋ Stop friends from sharing their phone numbers and especially addresses with someone they just met.
❗️Take it seriously if your friend suspects that their drink has been spiked.
🚕 Prepare a plan for how all your friends will get home, also check that you know where your friends live and you have contacts of people they might be living with.
🎉 Remember, drugging can also happen at private parties, not only clubs and bars.
When you notice a friend acting strange or look drunker than they should be and show any drugging related symptoms then help straight away and follow these steps:
🙋 Tell a bar manager, security, or member of the staff.
🗣 Stay with them and keep talking to them.
🚑 Call an ambulance if their condition gets worse.
❌ Don’t let them go home on their own.
❔ Don’t let them leave with someone you don’t know or trust.
🍺 Don’t let them drink more alcohol.
💬 Keep talking to your friend to reassure them. Don’t blame your friend for this situation. Be alert of their symptoms.
🏥 Encourage to take a drug test – go to the hospital where they can be tested for drugs and act accordingly. Taking a test is also helpful for getting proof for later if your friend decides to report the incident to the police.
🔎 Gather evidence in the club that might help to support the case: maybe someone has taken a photo of the drugger.
👮♀️ Report it to the police as soon as you can. They will need to take blood and urine samples. Most drugs leave the body within 72 hours of being taken (the date rape drug GHB leaves the body within 12 hours), so it’s important to be tested as soon as possible.
Share advice on how to stay safe with your friends!
Sources:
- “Drink Spiking and Date Rape Drugs.” Drinkaware, October 22, 2021. https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/staying-safe-while-drinking/drink-spiking-and-date-rape-drugs#howtoavoiddrinkspiking.
- Rees, Alison. “Preventing Drink Spiking & What to Do If a Drink Is Spiked.” Life Stuff. Life Stuff, October 26, 2022. https://life-stuff.org/alcohol/drink-spiking/.