Drink spiking is an illegal activity in which a drug or alcohol is added to a drink unbeknownst to the person consuming the drink. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to determine if a drink has been spiked unless someone has seen another person add a substance to the drink. In most cases, the after effects such as nausea, vomiting, loss of memory, dizziness, and even black outs lead a person to believe his or her drink has been spiked.
The Numbers in Australia
Due to the secretive nature of drink spiking it is difficult to determine the actual number of cases that occur in Australia. However, there are several factors that influence the totals of drink spiking cases identified or reported:
- Suspected increased levels of drink spiking with many remaining unreported
- Varying reporting procedures by jurisdictions
- Difficulty verifying if drink spiking occurred
One of the most difficult factors facing authorities when reporting drink spiking is the fact that the effects of drink spiking closely mimic the effects of alcohol. If a person was drinking an alcoholic drink it may be difficult to determine if drink spiking was involved without further testing. This is sometimes compounded if the drink spiking was accomplished using alcohol.
In Australia, approximately 4,000 drink spiking cases are reported annually and many are verified through drug and alcohol testing. Statistics reveal that close to one- third of drink spiking incidents result in a form of sexual assault.[1]
Teaching Employees about Drink Spiking
The workplace is an excellent place to teach employees about drink spiking. There are numerous myths about drink spiking that can be dispelled, and employers can include correct information in the drug and alcohol training sessions. This increases workplace safety through raised awareness.
Casual drinkers and people who drink non-alcoholic beverages are at risk for drink spiking, as well as regular drinkers. Some of the drugs used in drink spiking have longer term effects and can influence worker behaviour even when the incident occurred on the weekend. For the employer this can mean dealing with workers who show up to work hung-over, an increased chance of worker injury, more sick days, and a loss of productivity. Co-workers are at greater risk of experiencing harm also.
Teaching employees some of the common misconceptions about drink spiking will prepare them to be safety conscious when in public places:
- Drugs are most commonly used to spike drinks. In fact, alcohol is the most common substance used to spike drinks even though we typically hear about drugs such as Rohypnol and GHB.[2]
- Drink spiking always occurs in clubs and bars. The police warn that you should always be alert for drink spiking. It can occur anywhere, not just in clubs and bars. Restaurants, private homes, and even office parties can be sources for drink spiking.[3]
- This is a new type of crime. Drink spiking has been around for ages. It is a serious crime and can land the offender in jail for up to 25 years.[4]
- All drugs used to spike drinks are undetectable. Oddly enough, you can taste and smell some of the drugs used to spike drinks. Some leave a sediment or film in the drink. When a drink is spiked with alcohol it is harder to determine if it has been spiked.[5]
Employers can start educating their workers immediately in the dangers of drink spiking. This knowledge will help their employees and their families immensely.
Promoting a drug free workplace is critical due to the prevalence of alcohol and drug use in Australia. Drug and alcohol testing is a key enforcement component. Mediscreen at http://mediscreen.net.au/index.php?mod=contact offers a variety of high quality alcohol and drug test equipment to support workplace programs.
References
[1] Natalie Taylor, J. P. (2004). Drink Spiking Reports. Australian Institute of Criminology.
[2] Drink Spiking Myths and Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved from New South Wales Police: http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/81374/fact_sheet_drink_spiking_myths.pdf
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] ibid
