It's one of the most shocking crimes there is, leaving victims vulnerable to serious crimes.
As life returns to normal and thousands of young people flock to bars, clubs and nightclubs, some have shared their experiences of having their drink spiked on a night out.
It can be hard to tell if a powerful chemical has been tipped in your drink, and victims often wake up remembering nothing.
Many are too scared to go out again, while authorities struggle to report incidents reported outside of a vital 72-hour window as the drugs have often left the victim's body.
But there are some key things that you can do to protect yourself - and your pals - by being on your guard on a night out.
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Symptoms can develop within 5 - 20 minutes and last for up to 12 hours. Unfortunately, the drugs are usually tasteless, odourless and have no colour so it can be hard to know if you've been spiked.
The only way to check is to be aware of the symptoms, and be mindful if you feel taking them effect - or see a friend acting strangely.
Some of the things experts suggest may help include:
- Never accept a drink from a stranger
- Use a drink stopper if drinking from a bottle
- If drinking from a glass, try to cover it with your hands
But as Lela London writes for The Independent, these measures can only do so much .
She wrote: "Rather than releasing posters suggesting 'one in three cases of rape happen when the victim has been drinking', the government needs to conduct prevention campaigns focused on the illegality and immorality of drinks spiking itself.
"Rather than teaching young girls to cover their drinks and bodies defensively, we need to report and penalise culprits.
"The change starts in our culture, not in our caution."
How to help a friend who you think has been spiked - from Student Beans
- Tell a bar manager, bouncer or member of staff
- Stay with them and keep talking to them
- Call an ambulance if their condition deteriorates
- Don’t let them go home on their own
- Don’t let them leave the venue with someone you don’t know or trust
- Try and prevent them from drinking more alcohol
Lewis Potton, editor at Student Beans, said: “Letting off some steam after a week of studying at a local bar is a staple part of university life for many.
"With many young people coming forward to share their experiences of drink spiking, we must be all aware of the signs that show a drink may have been tampered with, to help protect ourselves and those around us.”
