Drink spiking
Although most people associate drink spiking with drugs, alcohol is the most common substance used to spike drinks, as it can be added to a soft drink without you knowing, or double measures can be used instead of singles. Drink spiking may be done with the intent of stealing from the victim, assaulting the victim, or as a prank.
You can look out for your friends by keeping an eye on their drinks and making sure they’re not left alone. If you start to feel strange or more drunk than you should be, get help immediately.
How can you tell if someone has been spiked?
Signs of being spiked might include:
- Sudden change in how out of it someone seems
- Dizziness, nausea
- Being unable to stand up, balance, coordinate or being unsteady on your feet
- Difficulty talking or heavy slurring
- Vomiting
- Losing consciousness
What to do if you think you or a friend have been spiked
- Speak to a member of staff at the venue as soon as you can — they want you to be safe and should be trained to help.
- Stay with your friends, keep talking to them and reassuring them that you’re getting help for them.
- Encourage them to avoid taking any more drugs, including alcohol.
- Prevent them from leaving the venue alone or with anyone you don’t trust and who can’t prove they know them well and that they have their best interests at heart.
- If you have experienced a spiking incident and want to report it, you can do so anonymously or by speaking to an advisor via our Edinburgh Napier Report and Support service.
How can I find out more advice on spiking?
More information and advice can be found by visiting the CREW website or Safer Scotland website.
Our Student Wellbeing team are also here for you if you need someone to talk to.
Have you engaged in spiking – even without realising it?
"He thinks he’s drinking a single, but he doesn’t know I actually bought him a double!"
Spiking is giving someone alcohol or drugs without their consent. The intention behind spiking doesn’t matter – without explicit permission, putting alcohol or drugs in a drink or food is spiking.
This includes giving someone a double shot when they asked for a single or adding extra shots to a glass of alcohol.
It might seem like a laugh or a prank or even that you're being generous, but the reality is you risk causing real harm.
You don't know if the person you are spiking has a medical condition or are on medication which increases harm. Increasing their alcohol content without their knowledge can put them in danger.
Other dangerous practices include adding substances to a drink or giving someone one substance but saying it is another. Being spiked can be traumatic, and it can place people in real danger – physically, mentally and medically.
So please, do not spike. It is illegal, and it is never the fault of the person who has been spiked.
How to report spiking and what we do with reports we receive
How do I report a spiking incident?
If you or someone you know has been spiked, you should call NHS24 for advice on 111. If you think the situation is life-threatening, call 999 immediately.
If you are on one of our Edinburgh Napier campuses or accommodation sites, you can contact our 24/7 security team via 0131 455 6119 (0131 455 4444 in emergencies) or via the SafeZone app.
You can report spiking incidents to the University anonymously via Report and Support.
If you believe one of your fellow students has been involved in spiking in any way, or that they are considering spiking someone, please report the details to complaints@napier.ac.uk as soon as you become aware.
What actions will the University take if a student is involved in spiking?
At Edinburgh Napier we have a zero-tolerance approach to anyone found to have engaged in spiking. Perpetrators face potential permanent exclusion from the University and being reported to Police Scotland, which could result in a criminal conviction and possible prison sentence.
We ask students to consider the impact spiking can have on both the victim and the perpetrator, and we urge you not to engage in the practice in any circumstance. Victims of spiking can be left with significant mental distress as well as facing physical harm which could be life threatening.
If we receive a report against any of our students where they are accused of spiking, we will investigate. If the investigation determines that their behaviour constitutes what we regard as spiking, they will face serious consequences which could see them permanently excluded from the university and reported to Police Scotland.
When we investigate misconduct, we make determinations using the balance of probabilities as our burden of proof. This means we will apply penalties to students if our investigation finds they are more likely than not to have breached our regulations. There is no requirement for us to prove allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
For more information, please refer to our Student Conduct Regulations.