Students given spiking warning ahead of Fresher's Fortnight
Students heading to university in a new town or city urged to get clued up on the risks of spiking
Students heading to university are being urged to get clued up on what to do if they get spiked on a night out.
This year, our Spiked investigation has been looking into how people are targeted, and why so few people are ever caught - despite it being a widespread issue up and down the country.
You can watch our #Spiked documentary here:
Ahead of Fresher's fortnight, when many students head off to university for the first time, we're hearing from the creators of a new app, set up to help people know what to do if they're targeted.
"I couldn't feel my legs" - Rosie's story
Rosie, who is a student in Manchester, is part of the TASA team.
She had a drink spiked during a night out in Durham, and wants to use her experience to help others who find themselves in the same situation.
She told us: "I got one drink at the bar, and felt completely fine, then got another drink at the bar and everything started to fall apart.
"I couldn't feel my legs, it wasn't like I was drunk and I was stumbling, I felt like I was paralysed. I couldn't control anything."
Alcohol, or a range of drugs are often used by spikers, each have a slightly different impact on the person who is targeted.
For Rosie it had a very specific effect: "The scariest thing for me was that the whole time I could think so clearly.
"I was thinking as if I was sober, but my body was not co-operating with me.
"It was like being stuck in one of those dreams. You try to wake yourself up and you just can't."
Thankfully Rosie was with friends, and was carried home.
She told us she could still feel the effects of the drugs for a number of days, and had a "brain fog" that last significantly longer.
App launched to help stop spiking
The TASA app has been developed as an education AND response tool for people to have on their phones on a night out.
It has several features including:
- The ability to send emergency messages to friends
- Provides information on how to protect yourself
- Enables the user to report it if they think they have been spiked
- Provides locations to the nearest Police station, hospital and pharmacy.
Its creators hope people using the app will also help build a much better picture of spiking hotspots, both within a specific town or city, or across the wider country.
Rosie told Hits Radio it's the sort of information she needed when she was targeted: "We need to get people to understand that victim blaming is not the way forward and we have to stop the perpetrator - but in the meantime knowing how to stay and safe what to do if this awful incident happens is just so important."
Rosie is urging all universities and Student Unions to include safety information about spiking in their welcome packs: "It's something that is never spoken about.
"Spiking is always missed off that list, with introductions to new places.
"It's categorically one of the most important things, and scariest issues that freshers face."
Universities urged to act on spiking
Universities UK has issued guidance to all its members about what steps HE institutions can take to respond to spiking.
This includes advice around understanding the scale of the problem, providing internal reporting pathways, and knowing how to speak to victims who might be uncertain about whether to come forward.
You can read the guidance in full here.
Get help and support if you've been spiked
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, reporting and getting support.
Check out the I've Been Spiked Instagram feed.
Learn about the Stamp Out Spiking campaign.
Get advice from DrinkAware.
And there's more on the Rape Crisis website if you'd like to explore it there.