It’s not easy to find out how many people have had their drinks spiked because a lot of those incidents go unreported. However, a recent study suggests that about 44 percent of men and 56 percent of women had their drinks spiked. Of those who have had their drink spiked, approximately 37 percent of them had it happen more than once. With such high numbers, it’s important to recognize the signs that you’ve consumed a spiked drink.
10 Signs Your Drink Was Spiked
1. You Suddenly Feel Drunk
It’s true that alcohol affects people differently and some drinks may take a little longer to hit you than others. Still, if you suddenly feel intoxicated, it could be a sign that someone spiked your drink.
2. You’re Disoriented
Sedatives and drugs like MDMA can make you lose track of where you are, why you’re there, and who you’re with.
3. Your Speech is Slurred
Slurred speech or losing the ability to speak altogether can happen when you’ve consumed a spiked drink.
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4. You’re Nauseated
Some people experience nausea after having a certain amount of alcohol or drinking specific types of alcohol. If you feel nauseous or vomited when neither of those issues should have affected you, the drink might have been spiked.
5. You Have a Headache
A sudden headache is common after having a spiked drink. Whether or not you have other symptoms, this should be investigated.
6. You’re Drowsy
It’s typical for the drugs used for spiking drinks to cause drowsiness. This feeling is worse than feeling tired. You may have the urge to go to sleep right where you are.
7. You’re Confused
If you’re suddenly having trouble forming coherent thoughts or following a conversation that’s going on, your drink may have been spiked.
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8. You’re Feeling Weak
Some of the drugs that are used to spike drinks affect your muscles as well as your brain. Even if you’re thinking fairly clearly, you shouldn’t have trouble staying upright, walking, or holding your drink.
9. You Have Trouble Breathing
It’s not as common as other symptoms but sedatives and MDMA can depress your respiratory system. As a result, you may have trouble breathing.
10. Your Vision is Blurry
You may have consumed a spiked drink if your vision suddenly gets blurry. Even if you haven’t had a spiked drink, blurry vision could be a sign that something else is wrong.
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What to Do if it Happens
It’s common to start noticing the signs of a spiked drink between 10 to 30 minutes after consumption. The first thing you should do in this case is seek help from someone sober enough to get you to a safe place. Doing so reduces the likelihood that the person who spoked your drink will get a chance to harm you. Afterward, it’s important to get medical attention. Different drugs are used to spike food and they can have significant effects on your health. Medical professionals will be able to test for drugs and determine the best way forward.
How to Recover
The drugs that are used to spike a drink can stay in your system for up to 35 hours. If you’ve been released from the hospital, follow their instructions until you feel better. Once you’re home, rest, eat small meals, and stay hydrated. It’s not uncommon for people who’ve had this happen to them to talk to trusted friends or a therapist.
More Stats You Should Know
Some of the numbers surrounding spiked food may surprise you. For example, most people report having theirg drinks spiked in college than when they’re adults. It’s also more likely to happen at a house party than at a bar or club. While 50 percent of women had their drink spiked by a stranger, 42 percent of men got spiked drinks from friends. Furthermore, people had their alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, and food spiked.
While there are no statistics specific to race, numbers related to sexual assault of Black Americans may apply. These studies show that Black women are more likely to be assaulted than other ethnicities and for every woman who reports it, there are another 15 who don’t. Additionally, up to 60 percent of Black girls experience some form of coercive sexual activity before the age of 18. It wouldn’t be strange if these numbers go hand in hand with how many Black women have their drinks spiked.
More people than you suspect have unknowingly consumed spiked drinks. While you can take steps to stay safe, it can still happen. If it does, it’s important to know the symptoms and take care of yourself.
