Drink spiking: the facts
Where was she? Gemma was furious as she stood outside the club shivering, clutching her mobile phone close to her ear. Shaking on the toilet floor inside the club, Caroline could hear the phone ringing but could not co-ordinate herself enough it pick it up. Later on she would find out that when she went to dance, leaving her drink foolishly on the bar, she had become the latest victim of drink spiking. That was my sister. She was lucky; she woke up in
casualty.
Drink spiking is the addition of mind-altering substances to another person's drink, and was highlighted last year with the high profile trial of Max Factor heir Andrew Luster, who skipped his $1 million bail and fled to Mexico during his trial for the rape, poisoning and drugging of 86 girls. Despite the publicity this provoked, we are all still too complacent in relaxed social gatherings, leaving ourselves vulnerable to this increasing hazard.
The Roofie Foundation, an organisation that provides advice about drug rape, reported a 34 per cent increase of this crime in the South West during the last year. Interestingly, even though anyone that drinks could become a victim, the reported cases show women are seven times more likely to be the targets, with the main venue for all reported cases being pubs and clubs. Rape, however, isn't the only motivation for drink spiking; it has also been used to target potential victims for theft and assault.
As revellers at a Chelmsford nightclub partied late into the night last November, police posed as glass collectors. Eight out of the 200 glasses they collected contained drugs thought to be used in rapes. Despite this alarming result, the police refused to draw any conclusion from this simplistic trial, though they stated that these findings could be typical of clubs across the country.
Essentially, the police did show that these drugs are prevalent in our clubs. But what are our local clubs and pubs doing to reduce the risks? When I spoke to the manager of The Bridge, Phil Davidson, he was aware of only two cases over the last couple of years. However, when asked if he felt his staff could tell the difference between a seriously drunk person and someone who was drugged, he felt confident his staff could, though did concede it would be difficult.
He was unaware of training schemes and drink testing packs, which have been made available by foundations such as Roofie for pub and club staff. The manager at Park End, Zolly, was a bit more guarded but claimed that they had had very few incidences of drink spiking over the last year, as well as informing me that their head office were active in a campaign to raise awareness.
But what are drinks spiked with? The two main drugs used are Rohypnol (benzodiazepine flunitrazepam) and GHB (gammahydroxybutyrate or liquid ecstasy), which are collectively known on the street as Roofies. But be aware: both are colourless, odourless and virtually tasteless chemicals, which makes them difficult to detect in drinks. Both take effect relatively quickly, acting after 15 to 30 minutes.
Rohypnol is the brand name of a tranquilliser manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals and is available in Europe by prescription. It is from a family of chemicals, known as benzodiazepines and including valium and diazepam, which doctors prescribe to relieve anxiety, depression and insomnia. When used for prescription purposes these drugs can be of great benefit, but the risks arise when mixed with alcohol and other drugs - among other effects this can lead to 'blackouts' lasting between eight and 24 hours. Taking one tablet has been described as equivalent to drinking a six pack of beer. Roche Pharmaceuticals have tried to counter the use of this drug by date rapists by adding a blue dye to the tablets, but the findings in Chelmsford suggest this has not been as effective as hoped.
GHB produces similar effects to Rohypnol when mixed with alcohol. It was originally developed as an anaesthetic and was used in the treatment of narcolepsy, alcohol withdrawal and as a growth hormone stimulant by body builders. GHB is also taken recreationally to increase the potency of drinks by clubbers. Despite this, it is not safe and concerns about its use in drug rape and its damaging effects on the body have recently forced the government to reclassify it as a Class C drug. The disturbing hallucinogenic effect of this drug is shown in the case of a 25-year-old woman from Bolton who was found by paramedics after pulling out 18 of her own teeth with
pliers.
Though the above drugs are increasing in notoriety, 54 per cent of drug rape victims are also drugged by alcohol. With British women again topping the European league in volume drunk per year, it is set to be an ongoing
hazard. Police in Southampton claimed that one third of rape victims in 2002 had been drinking to excess. But, whatever is used in drug rape, the effects of amnesia mean that even if the assailant is caught, there is little chance they will be convicted.
So want can we do to stay safe? Chemists at the company SureScreen have been developing swizzlesticks which can indicate whether a drink has been spiked or not. But until there's a swizzlestick that's cheap enough to be given away with all drinks and can test for all types of drugs, these are not a viable option. Certainly in Oxford, we can go a long way by reaching out to the local community. Following the example of Leeds Student Union and Leeds Drug Action, OUSU could produce flyers, beer mats and posters, which could be distributed to local pubs and clubs.
Due to a recent spate of drink spiking incidences in Oxford, Rosie Buckland, VP (Welfare and Equal Opportunities) for OUSU, has promised in a report this term to Council to produce leaflets promoting awareness. As with most serious crimes, it is unlikely to happen to you, but ultimately you can reduce your chances of falling victim to drink spiking and date rape by using common sense and a little caution.
- Do not leave your drink unattended
- If drinking from a bottle put your thumb over the top
- Take your drink with you to the toilets
- Do not accept drinks from strangers
- Remember that even if you aren't drinking alcohol you can
still be affected
- If you believe your drink tastes different, leave it.
- If you start to feel drunk after less alcohol than normal,
tell a friend and get them to help you
- If you notice a friend is drunk after one or two drinks,
keep an eye on them
- If you are on your own or with someone you don't really
know, go to the landlord or manager and ask for help.
Wait while they phone your parents or a friend
- Women are not the only victims
Want advice?
www.roofie.com
www.essex.police.uk/pages/comact/m_drugs5.htm
www.dr-ugged.co.uk
www.rapecrisis.co.uk
Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre (01865) 726 295
For a poster of Spike call Reading Police on (01189) 536354
3rd Apr 2004