News
November 24 2003
Page 3
grnews@cf.ac.uk
Six people a night admitted to Heath hospital with spiked drinks
DISSOLV
ING (Pho to:
Gemma
Griffiths)
By Mark Jenkins Reporter
AT LEAST six people a night end up in Cardiff’s University Hospital because their drinks are spiked, according to casualty doctors. And this news comes as extremely alarming to students who often take safety for granted while out partying. Drink spiking involves secretly adding a drug to somebody’s drink. Two of the most commonly used chemicals are GHB, a common recreational drug, and Rohypnol. Both are relatively easy to get hold of. Ecstasy, amphetamines and diazepam were also found to be commonly used in a study conducted at the hospital last Christmas.
Undetectable
Spiking drugs dissolve in the drink, and are undetectable by taste or smell.
Sinister According to Dr Rupert Evans, A&E consultant at University Hospital, the problem could get worse. "It’s sinister and it’s increasing," he said. "People have to be aware of it." Noting that the victims of spiking are usually women between the ages of 16 and 30, he added, "Most of these girls come in and they are concerned that they could have been assaulted. They lose their sense of control and their memories." Two weeks ago, an 18-year-old girl was found on the street in Riverside. She claimed that her drink had been spiked, she was dressed in bin liners and did not know where she was. It may come as a surprise to some Cathays students that drinking around the Students’ Union affords them no additional protection from sexual
W
ays to keep your drink safe from spikers: Don’t leave your drinks unattended. Nominate a trusted drinks watcher. Preferably, finish your drink before going to the toilet, having a dance, etc., or take it with you. If you feel drunk after one or two drinks, seek help from a trusted friend or bar staff. Make sure you trust the person you are asking for help, and think twice about leaving with somebody you just met. Don’t accept lifts from strangers. Plan your evening, including transport to and from home.
Photo: Gemma Griffiths
A spiked drink will often have serious effects on a victim. These can range from feeling very drunk after just one or two drinks to memory loss or coma. For this reason, spiking is typically done to make the victim more vulnerable to sexual assault.
BLURRED VISION: Symptom of drink spiking
Who’s looking after your drink?
attacks. A first year student was assaulted just across the street from the Union two years ago, in a grassy area on Park Place. She had been in Solus with her friends prior to the attack. South Wales Police have downplayed the problem. Superintendent Kevin Tumelty said, "We are aware of GHB, but to say there is an epidemic would be wrong." But the average figure of six people being admitted to hospital each night does not include those who are unable or unwilling to report their attack.
Memory loss The severe memory loss associated with spiking has been known to leave some people with no memories at all of the previous night. gair rhydd urges its readers to be careful with their drinks, particularly with the Christmas party s e a s o n approaching.
Drink spiking affects men too DRINK SPIKING gangs have been targeting both straight and gay men in London and Edinburgh. After having their drink spiked, victims have been taken away from the bar or club in which they were drinking and gang-raped. A male student from Portsmouth University spoke to gair rhydd of his own experience with spiked drinks. Fortunately, he was not attacked due to the quick thinking of his friends. He recalled, "First of all, everything got quite vivid and bright. My senses were heightened. "Then I just blacked out. I was unconscious for about 14 hours and I was violently sick when I was asleep. “I found out afterwards that I wasn't the only one."
Photo: Gemma Griffiths