Scotland launches anti-spiking campaign
NHS 24, alongside Police Scotland and the Scottish Government, is raising awareness of the dangers of drink spiking to help protect the public throughout the summer events season.
As part of the collaboration, a national response has been developed to make sure people who come to A&E with suspected drink spiking receive clear and uniform advice.
Scotland’s 111 service has also been updated to include spiking-related guidance to help spot and support potential cases.
Victims and community safety minister Siobhian Brown said: “We are aware of the concern in spiking cases that the link between health professionals and Police Scotland has not always been clear to victims.
“We are therefore introducing changes to the NHS system which will allow us to record those who present to A&E as potential victims of spiking.
“This will provide invaluable data on previous unrecorded incidents and will allow us to better understand the extent to which these lead on to formal police reporting.”
Spiking involves giving someone alcohol or drugs without their consent, often by adding substances to drinks or injecting the person.
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The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has endorsed the collaborative approach to raising awareness of spiking.
Raising awareness
The most common type is drink spiking, which can occur at social events, private gatherings, bars, or nightclubs.
Brown added “We remain committed to raising awareness of and addressing issues around spiking, and urge everyone to remain vigilant and stay safe as they enjoy the summer and festival period.”
“Recognising the signs of spiking is crucial, as the signs can appear rapidly” explained Dr Julie Ronald, associate medical director at NHS 24. “Common symptoms can include sudden dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, and loss of consciousness.”
In February, the government announced plans to make spiking a standalone criminal offence under the UK’s Crime and Policing Bill.
This comes after a 2024 survey, funded by Drinkaware and conducted by Anglia Ruskin University, revealed 11.3% of adults reported being spiked at some point in their lives, with women (13%) more frequently targeted than men (9%) (Drinkaware Monitor, 2024).
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