Speaking to your teen about drink spiking

Some teens think it’s ‘fun’ to put a bit of alcohol into someone else’s drink. They see it as a harmless act and have little knowledge of how serious drink spiking is.  

These youngsters don’t realise that spiking someone’s drink with alcohol or drugs is illegal and that anyone who does it can be faced with serious charges.

If you have a teen who often parties with friends, then make them aware of the dangers of drink spiking. Speak to them about how they can protect themselves from it and what precautions they should take when on a night out.

Here are some safety suggestions for your teen:

• Head out with trusted friends and make sure there’s always someone keeping an eye on the drinks.
• Don’t accept drinks from strangers and watch the bartended when they prepare drinks.
• Get drinks that come in bottles with screw-top lid.
• Carry drinks to the toilet at all times.
• If on a date, choose a public place and make sure friends and family know where that place is.
• Don’t share other people’s drinks.

Explain to your teen that the more alcohol they have, the less likely they are to realise their drink has been spiked. Some of the symptoms of drink spiking include:

• Nausea and vomiting, almost like food poisoning.
• Feeling drowsy or drunk after only one or two drinks.
• Feeling much drunker than expected.
• A general state of confusion and memory loss.
• Hallucinations.
• Seizures.
• Loss of consciousness.
• An unusually long ‘hangover’.
• A severe hangover when you had little or no alcohol to drink.

If your teen or friends’ of your teen experience any of these on a night out, have them speak to the manager about it. They should take the person to a safe area and stay with them until they begin to feel better. If symptoms are ongoing, then they should ring the ambulance immediately.