A quarter of people aged 18 to 43 believe they have at some point been given drugs or alcohol without their knowledge or consent, shocking figures reveal.
St John Ambulance is urging the public to learn “first aid” to help anyone affected during the Christmas holiday season.
Fortification can involve adding alcohol or drugs to drinks, needle fortification (where people are injected), or vape or cigarette fortification, where drugs are added to these products.
Symptoms of spikes include feeling drunk or sleepy, being “out of it” or drunker than expected, mental confusion, slurred speech, memory loss, loss of inhibitions, nausea, vomiting, and breathing problems.
Victims may also experience muscle spasms or seizures, loss of consciousness, or a severe hangover after drinking little or no alcohol.
In new advice, St John said victims should stay hydrated by encouraging them to drink little water and often, place them in a safe place and always have someone with them.
If a person believes they have been drugged, they or a friend should alert bar staff and the police, including reporting any suspicious behavior.
If the victim becomes unresponsive, others should place the victim in the recovery position and call an ambulance.
Adding alcohol or drugs can involve adding alcohol or drugs to drinks, adding needles (where people are injected) or adding vapes or cigarettes, where drugs are added to these products (file photo) .
St John Ambulance urges public to learn ‘first aid’ to help anyone affected during the Christmas holiday season (file photo)
The public should also know how to perform CPR in case someone stops breathing.
Their survey of 2,000 people across the UK revealed that 23 per cent of people aged 18 to 43 felt they had “definitely” been attacked, rising to 41 per cent including those who believe they had “possibly” been attacked.
The charity’s medical director, Dr Lynn Thomas, said: “Our latest research shows that this terrible crime continues to ruin people’s social lives when they simply want to go out and enjoy time together.”
‘While we fully support all efforts to prevent and pursue spike incidents, St John aims to teach people how to look after each other when the worst happens.
‘Recognizing the symptoms of spikes is a critical first step in such care and will help protect victims from further harm.
‘Staying with an affected victim, monitoring them and being ready to provide first aid could save their life. We urge people to equip themselves with that knowledge.”
People are urged to search for Switch on Spiking online for more information.
Although alcohol consumption is already illegal, the Labor Government has said it will make it a specific criminal offense to give someone alcohol or drugs, without them knowing or agreeing.
Statistics released last December revealed that, on average, police receive 561 reports of increases per month. However, the increases are believed to be under-reported.