Drink Spiking of Students

Jackiest

Yes being drunk does make you more vulnerable but it still should not happen. As with most crimes the best prevention is the knowledge that you will most likely get caught. So most of these places have cctv, check through it and find the person who did it. If the cctv is not good enough improve it. Make sure all the students know how it is being done so that can look out for it. Not just being done to them but being done to others and then call security and catch the person.

Yes. I think this is the idea behind the proposed boycotting of some venues – make the owners/management do more to prevent spiking and to catch any criminals engaging in it.

These threats are real.

Warn you grandaugheters.

greenlady102

sodapop

I think the latest thing is girls being spiked by a needle and given drugs by injection. Girls have started wearing denim jackets etc as it's harder for the needle to penetrate. It's a scary world out there for women

I think that has been proven to be an urban myth

It is most certainly not a myth that people are being injected unknowingly greenlady102.
By now you will probably have seen it on the news.

How do we protect our grand -daughters?

If they are in Edinburgh, there is an organisation called Street Assist which sends help to anyone who needs assistance - like thinking that their drink has been spiked, feeling unable to look after themselves getting home after a night out, or in trouble of any sort.
I have just seen a Facebook post by them at
www.facebook.com/streetassistedin
They can be contacted by calling 07708351200.

It could also be a useful number for ANYONE to know! Every student and other young person "out on the tiles" should have their number on their mobile.

Edinburgh, along with othe cities, is also pioneering "Strut safe" where volunteers will accompany anyone who feels they need company and protection getting home after a night out, or travelling about the city at night, or keep them company on the phone..
www.facebook.com/strutsafe/
www.indy100.com/news/strut-safe-edinburgh-interview-founder-b1934178
Their phone number is 0333 335 0026

This is part of many initiatives to "Reclaim the streets"
twitter.com/rts_edinburgh?lang=en
www.thesun.co.uk/news/14321107/reclaim-these-streets-vigil/

DS's partner had her drink spiked in a bar in Budapest when she went home a few years ago.. We don't know what the drug was but it left her with a lot of mental problems. She was in her 30s so not an inexperienced teenager.

Jackiest

Yes being drunk does make you more vulnerable but it still should not happen. As with most crimes the best prevention is the knowledge that you will most likely get caught. So most of these places have cctv, check through it and find the person who did it. If the cctv is not good enough improve it. Make sure all the students know how it is being done so that can look out for it. Not just being done to them but being done to others and then call security and catch the person.

Totally agree ?

Yes being drunk does make you more vulnerable but it still should not happen. As with most crimes the best prevention is the knowledge that you will most likely get caught. So most of these places have cctv, check through it and find the person who did it. If the cctv is not good enough improve it. Make sure all the students know how it is being done so that can look out for it. Not just being done to them but being done to others and then call security and catch the person.

You are assuming that this is always happening to girls who have had too much to drink GG13. With some of the reported cases that is not true.
Are you really victim blaming?
I'm sorry, but I find that appalling. Would you say that if it was your granddaughter?
No evidence either way that it is an urban myth greenlady102. The police are still investigating.

Greenlady
Urban myth or not, girls are wearing denim to protect themselves.

sodapop

I think the latest thing is girls being spiked by a needle and given drugs by injection. Girls have started wearing denim jackets etc as it's harder for the needle to penetrate. It's a scary world out there for women

I think that has been proven to be an urban myth

Mamie

How could you be vigilant about an injection GG13? It is a criminal act.
Baggs I think the universities could do more in providing minibuses and creating a very safe space on campus, for example.
The point is that these are not isolated bars in city centres but places with thousands of young men and women. Their vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that their A level years have been anything but normal.

Their vulnerability is exacerbated by alcohol along with getting carried away with the music etc.

If they were to be more vigilant/aware they just might feel the needle puncturing the skin and act immediately.

How could you be vigilant about an injection GG13? It is a criminal act.
Baggs I think the universities could do more in providing minibuses and creating a very safe space on campus, for example.
The point is that these are not isolated bars in city centres but places with thousands of young men and women. Their vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that their A level years have been anything but normal.

Jackiest I agree it needs to be safe for everyone.

There are lots of good males out there and I do wonder how they feel going out and about, are they constantly evaluating their every move incase it could be misinterpreted?

I do not know what the solution is, other than being extra vigilant which after a few drinks and enjoying the moment in all honesty probably flys straight out of the window.

Where MiniBaggs is at uni the students' union are trying to organise a boycott of nightclubs where spiking happens.

I don't feel it's the job of a university to do more to protect its students. They are adults, technically at least. Drawing the attention of the management of places where spiking occurs seems like a way of raising awareness.

GrannyGravy13

It’s not just young women who have their drinks spiked though. Have any of you been in a town/city centre in the evenings and seen how groups of females behave?

I do wonder if this party at any cost attitude has anything to do with being in some form of lockdown for upwards of 18 months?

Yes Women are just as bad but all the newspaper articles and social media concentrates on how unsafe it is for women which makes women feel even more unsafe than they did before. We need to concentrate on making it safer for everyone.

Are you saying that women are to blame for being spiked GG13?

It’s not just young women who have their drinks spiked though. Have any of you been in a town/city centre in the evenings and seen how groups of females behave?

I do wonder if this party at any cost attitude has anything to do with being in some form of lockdown for upwards of 18 months?

Glad it has made the news Callistemon. The boys in my GDs flat come out immediately if the girls need help, but it shouldn't have to be like that.
I think it needs a concerted effort by the universities too.

Mamie

Have people read the Guardian link of spiking by injection?

It was on the lunch-time news, Mamie

Shocking.

It’s important that women are made aware of the dangers and how to avoid them, but I think it’s equally important that men are taught to respect women and not engage in this sort of behaviour.

Yes, I agree absolutely, Blossoming.
There has always been a laddish culture around, but I do not understand the total disrespect for women (and girls) that seems to be prevalent amongst so many young men today.

It’s important that women are made aware of the dangers and how to avoid them, but I think it’s equally important that men are taught to respect women and not engage in this sort of behaviour.

I think the latest thing is girls being spiked by a needle and given drugs by injection. Girls have started wearing denim jackets etc as it's harder for the needle to penetrate. It's a scary world out there for women

Years ago I remember commenting to DD1 that I didn’t like her drinking (her cider/lager whatever) from the bottle when out. She assured me it was the only way to avoid having a drink spiked, as you kept hold of the bottle and placed your thumb over the top between taking drinks. Once empty, it could be put down, but never before.

It would be interesting to hear responses from people whose grandchildren are undergraduates at the moment.

This is the response from one university.
"When you see inappropriate behaviour from other men, challenge it – call out your peers and friends when they are being misogynistic or degrading of women;
Keep your distance - don’t walk behind women in the dark; cross the road and give them some space;
Offer to walk female friends home;
Be an example for other men in your behaviour;
If you’re concerned that someone may have been spiked, speak to venue staff if you are in a club, stay with the individual and keep talking to them and call an ambulance."

It would be good to hear about what other universities are doing.

This has been around for years. I remember being in clubs and having to be careful. Perhaps depends on where in the country you are. I grew up in a rough working class town.

I badgered my children to death about this when they went out. Keep your drink with you all the time. If you have to leave it for any reason, get another.

Same old stuff, just new generation.