Spiking: what do I need to know & what can I do?

The effects of spiking vary from person to person, however there are common symptoms can which you can look out for in yourself, or in a friend: 

• Feeling confused or disorientated 
• Lowered inhibitions 
• Loss of balance 
• Distorted vision or hearing 
• Nausea/vomiting 
• Loss of consciousness   
• Hallucinations 
• Paranoia
• Memory loss 

When do symptoms show up?
The effects of spiking can begin quickly following an incident; 15-30 mins after the substance is administered and can last for several hours.

By recognising the signs quickly, we can help to look out for each other and get support.

If you feel unwell, with any of the symptoms described above, and think you may have had your drink spiked, or have been spiked in another way, please:

• Seek immediate assistance from someone you trust, such as a friend or venue staff.
• Go to a hospital with a trusted person, or in an emergency, call 999 for an ambulance.
• If you feel comfortable to do so, report the incident to the Police.
• After you/your friend have sought immediate support, you can also submit a Student of Concern form. This will ensure that our King’s support services can reach out to you/your friend and offer follow-up welfare and wellbeing support.

If the incident took place on a King’s campus, we recommend these additional steps:

• Contact the campus security team for help.
• When you’re in a safe space and if you feel comfortable to do so, please report the incident to the university.

In public: If the incident took place in a public place – such as bar or nightclub, or in someone’s private home:

• When you’re comfortable to do so, please report the incident to the Police.
• When in a safe space and if you feel comfortable to do so, please inform the university of the incident by emailing studentwellbeingandwelfare@kcl.ac.uk who will help you to access support.

At King’s: If the incident took place on a King’s campus:

• When in a safe space and if you feel comfortable to do so, please inform the university of the incident by reporting on King's Report & Support website and you will be offered access to support.
• If you suspect that the perpetrator may be a student or staff member, and you would like to formally report a complaint against them, please also report on King's Report & Support website and this will be investigated.
• If you live in a King’s Residence, you can contact your Residence Welfare Leads who are trained to support students and are on-call:
  • From 20:00 to 08:00 every day of the week.
  • 24/7 on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

At KCLSU: If the incident took place in a KCLSU venue:

• Please report this; if you feel comfortable to do so, you can do this at the time to venue staff or by emailing complaints@kclsu.org, and this will be investigated.

Spiking and assault are caused only by the actions of the perpetrator; however, we understand that being equipped with as much information as possible about the signs that someone may have been spiked and what to do, may make you feel more comfortable about enjoying our city at night.

There are some things you can do to build up your awareness of spiking incidents, which can help you protect yourself and others.

These are external resources we recommend reading:

• The charity drinkaware for guidance on:
  • How to avoid drink spiking
  • How to help a friend who you think has been spiked
• Try talktofrank.com for tips and information to help protect yourself, and what to do if you it’s happened to you or a friend:
  • Spiking – top tips to stay safe

• Immediately following the incident, we recommend seeking emergency care.
• In the days and weeks following the incident, you may need further support for your physical and mental health.

We recommend you:

• • Visit your GP, or register with a local GP if you haven’t already done so.
  • Find out about the Specialist mental health services available to you.
  • Reach out to your Faculty Wellbeing & Welfare Advisor and your Personal Tutor for guidance to support options within the university.
  • For broader options and tips to support your mental health, refer to Managing your mental health & wellbeing.
• For support from KCLSU, take a look at It Happens Here, which is a student-led group working to promote sexual assault, violence, and harassment awareness starting with our own campus.
• For further support outside King’s, you might like to take a look at the Not On My Campus UK Instagram.
• You may also find it helpful to reach out to The Chaplaincy if you'd like to talk to someone about your experience.

King’s is working to help tackle spiking and assault to help ensure everyone feels safe to enjoy student life in London. 

Steps we’ve already started to take, in partnership with KCLSU:

• Working with venues and local licensing authorities: The KCLSU President has written formally on behalf of KCLSU to the licensing authorities for Southwark to report venues where this has taken place. 
• Security checks and bag searches: Security checks and bag searches are being carried out at KCLSU venues, including random spot-checks on wallets and CCTV is being closely monitored.
  • Where an individual is found to be possessing items likely to be used for spiking, either via drinks or injections, the police are informed and KCLSU reports the incident to the university.
• Taking reports seriously: We take reports of spiking and spiking by injection assault, extremely seriously. We encourage you to report incidents of this nature to the police if you can, and to report it to the university through where we fully investigate these reports.
• Helping students feel safe on nights out: Whilst the responsibility for drink spiking lies solely with the perpetrator, we understand that some students feel more comfortable on a night out by taking certain measures such as using drink covers.
  • To support this, free covers called "spikies" are available for students in KCLSU spaces to use.
  • KCLSU venues also operate the “Ask Angela” scheme.
• Training and support for students and staff: The university has training programmes available to students and staff to help create a safe environment on campus and support victims.
  • Consent training is available to all students via the ‘Consent Matters’ training programme.
  • Staff and KCLSU Advice have also attended Survivor’s Trust training to help support victims. 
• The expectations of all King’s members: The King’s Community Charter outlines the behaviour expected of all King’s members, including ensuring that our campuses are a welcoming and healthy environment for all.
• Enhanced oversight: Working to prevent and address harassment and sexual misconduct, with the university’s ‘Preventing and addressing harassment and sexual misconduct oversight committee’, which includes student voice representation from KCLSU.
• Improved reporting systems for harassment: A key aim of the ‘Preventing and addressing harassment and sexual misconduct oversight committee’ is to introduce the Culture Shift ‘Report & Support’ system, which will provide a single, straightforward point of entry for reports of harassment.