Drink spiking
Drink spiking is the act of secretly adding a substance to someone’s drink without their knowledge or consent. Substances used to spike a drink may be colourless, odourless, and tasteless and are done with the intention of causing harm or taking advantage of the person who has consumed the spiked drink.
The effects of a spiked drink can vary depending on the substance that has been added, but they may include feeling drunk or unwell despite having limited or no alcohol, nausea and vomiting, and loss of control or consciousness. In severe cases, drink spiking can lead to serious injury or even death. It also makes you more vulnerable to sexual assault, human trafficking, robbery, abduction, and injury.
It is important to be aware of the risks of drink spiking and to take steps to protect yourself and others. This includes never leaving your drink unattended, not accepting drinks from strangers, and only drinking from sealed containers. If you suspect that your drink has been spiked or if you feel unwell after drinking, it is important to seek medical attention immediately and not leave the venue alone.
To learn about possible signs and symptoms, strategies to protect yourself and others, and other important information about drink spiking, see the infographic below.
The information displayed in the infographic above is displayed in an accessible format below.
Drink spiking
Motives
Drink spiking is when alcohol or a drug is added to your drink without your knowledge or consent. This makes you more vulnerable to sexual assault, human trafficking, robbery, abduction, and injury. Substances used to spike a drink may be: colourless, odourless, tasteless
Gender
2 Drink spiking can happen to anyone — males, females, and non-binary people. Within a study at a college, of the students who reported experiencing drink spiking, 9.5% were female and 4.2% were male.
Reporting
1 Drink spiking is underreported. Over 90% of people who suspected their drink was spiked did not report the incident to hospital, police, or venue.
Location
1 Drink spiking can happen anywhere. Research suggests drink spiking occurs at bars and clubs (50%), in private homes (22%), at pubs (14%), at festivals (3%), and in other settings, such as colleges and universities, at work, or at a concert (11%).
Forms
1 Substances used to spike drinks may range from alcohol to various other drugs/substances.
Preventative measures
Protect yourself:
- Buy your own drinks and watch them being prepared
- Never leave your drink unattended
- Do not share drinks or accept drinks from others
- Refuse your drink if it tastes, smells, or looks strange
- If you have one, place a drink cap on your beverage
Penalty
3 If caught spiking someone’s drink, it can result in up to 14 years in prison. Additional charges may be laid if further harms occurred such as robbery or assault.
Symptoms
- Feeling drunk despite having limited alcohol
- Blurred vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Loss of control
- Difficulty speaking and/or breathing
- Feeling hot or col
- Changes in heart rate
If you suspect your drink has been spiked and you’re experiencing symptoms, do not leave the venue alone, alert a trusted friend or venue staff, and call 911.
To talk about your experiences, you can reach out to Victim Services (705.522.6970), Greater Sudbury Police (705.222.8477), or the Human Trafficking Hotline (1.833.900.1010).
1 Winstock, A., Barratt, M., Davies, E., Aldridge, A., Puljevic, C., Ferris, J., Zhuparris, A. Interim Findings from CDS2022: Drink Spiking. 2022.
https://www.globaldrugsurvey.com/downloads/2022DrinkSpike.pdf
2 Swan, S., Lasky, N., Fisher, B., Woodbrown, V.D., Bonsu, J., Schramm, A., Warren, P., Coker, An., Williams, C. (2017). Just a Dare or Unaware? Outcomes and Motives of Drugging (“Drink Spiking”) Among Students at Three College Campuses. Psychology of Violence. 7(2) 253-264
3 Government of Canada. Criminal Code (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46)
This item was last modified on January 3, 2023