#Spiked: An exclusive investigation into the drink-spiking epidemic in the UK

43% of women have had a drink spiked, or know someone who has.

Statistics like that show that for many, spiking is a common experience around the country, with people being targeted by 'spikers' in a home, bar, pub, festival or club environment.

This year, we've investigated why spiking has seemingly become a socially acceptable risk for people to face.

Our #Spiked investigation hears from victims, experts and politicians and shines a light on the issue.

Listen to Spiked here:

#Spiked investigation hears stories of people being targeted

Last year, around 5,000 spiking incidents were reported to the Police, but a range of surveys seen by our investigation, suggests that fewer than one in ten people actually report it, over fears they won't be believed, that they'll be blamed or that they didn't know how to approach police.

READ: 9/10 drink spikings are NOT reported to the Police

Mair is one of those victims sharing her story with us.

She was inspired to start the I've Been Spiked campaign after she was targeted on a night out in a bar.

She tells us the night started out like any other: "They had a high card limit at the bar, so I had to buy three drinks instead of one.

"So I bought two drinks for my mates and I passed them back, and I took one sip of that drink and after that I don't remember anything."

"I was covered in blood"

Piecing that night back together, Mair only has snapshots of what happened to her:

"My sister couldn't find me anywhere, and the only place she hadn't checked was the boy's toilets so she just went into the toilets. Apparently I opened it, I'd already sustained all my injuries, I was covered in blood and I was incoherent.

READ: Former Police Officer calls for new Spiking law to be introduced

"I'd split my chin, I later found out I'd fractured my wrist, but I knew it really hurt. I was bleeding from my nose and my first point of call was to go to A&E.

"At this point it hadn't really set in that something more sinister had happened.

Serious questions remain

Mair says she still has questions about what happened to her that night.

"Was I sexually assaulted?

"Was I sexually harrassed?

"I still don't know. One of the first questions the nurse asked me was 'Do you think you've been raped?'

READ: Anti-Spiking campaigners demand action to stamp out 'cowardly crime'

"I think that was the only point where I started crying because I was like, I actually genuinely don't know."

"I've still got a scar on my chin from the night I got spiked. I see that every day.

"I could get quite angry when I thought about it because the person that did that to me is probably just going about their life in a normal way and I've got to suffer with these injuries.

"But I think I learned to let go."

Fighting back

After her experience, Mair started looking online to find more information about spiking, but was unimpressed by what she found.

She set up the I've Been Spiked instagram feed to give people clear information about where you can get help, how common an experience it is, and the wide range of people who can be targeted by spikers.

She said: "Just two months before I was spiked my sister was spiked, so I knew the process of going to A&E and getting tested and what they needed from you and I knew that was out of the question, so I had my physical injuries treated and I left.

"I had no follow up support or anything and that's when I went online to find answers."

"I knew about spiking, it was something I was aware of and then suddenly it started to appear around me and I guess that's why I decided I wanted to do something about it."

Links to help and more information on spiking

If you've got questions about spiking or want to know more

Find out what the Police say about it, in terms of signs and symptoms and getting support

Check out the I've Been Spiked Instagram feed

Get advice from DrinkAware

Learn more about the Stamp Out Spiking campaign

Check out more information about the anti-spiking app TASA

And there's more on the Rape Crisis website if you'd like to explore the effects and consequences of spiking there.

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