Spiking
If you have been spiked its important to remember what has happened is not your fault and you’re not alone. Your safety and wellbeing are the most important things right now and you can access specialist support, if and whenever you feel ready.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU'VE BEEN SPIKED
- If you start to feel strange, sick or drunk when you know that you couldn’t be drunk, get help from a trusted friend or the venue management.
- If you think you may have been spiked, ask a close friend to get you out of the venue or party as soon as possible and either take you home or to hospital (if seriously unwell). You could also ring a friend, relative or partner and ask them to come and pick you up.
- If you feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened you can ask for help by approaching venue staff and asking for ‘Angela’. This is a coded-phrase that indicates you need help and a trained member of staff will support and assist you. You can also ask for ‘Angela’ if you are in any situation where you feel threatened or at risk.
- Once you are safely home ask someone to stay with you until the effects of the drug have worn off – this might take several hours.
- Don’t hesitate to call for medical help if you need it – it’s always better to get checked out.
- If you feel able and comfortable to, make a report to the police as soon as possible. Some substances used for spiking can’t be detected after 72 hours or even 12 hours, so doing this as early as possible can help the police find out what has happened.
UNIVERSITY SUPPORT
- A Wellbeing Advisor will discuss your options with you and will be able to offer appropriate practical and emotional support tailored to your circumstances. This is confidential and does not instigate any kind of formal reporting process. You can get in touch anytime by emailing wellbeing@ua92.ac.uk.
- Spectrum Life is our 24/7 student support platform; details of how to access here.
REPORTING OPTIONS
It’s your choice. It’s completely up to you whether or not to report what’s happened. No-one else can or should make that choice for you.
- Police. In an emergency or if you are in immediate danger you should dial 999. Otherwise, you can call 101 or visit your local police station to report a crime.
- GMP: Greater Manchester Police has an online service for victims to report any incidents of spiking along with an advice and information page. GMP is on one of 4 forces who have adopted this approach, which will be evaluated by the NPCC with a view for a national roll out.
- UA92: If the perpetrator is a member of the University community, you will have the option of submitting a formal report. The first step to making a formal report is to submit a report form.