"I was covered in blood" - victims tell us what it's really like to be spiked
Our #Spiked investigation is lifting the lid on a spiking epidemic that is more common than you might think
43% of women have had a drink spiked, or know someone who has.
The stat lays bare the common experience of people up and down the country, being targeted by 'spikers' in a home, bar, pub, festival or club environment.
This summer, our investigation is shining a light on the issue, and asking why spiking has seemingly become a socially acceptable risk for people to face.
#Spiked investigation hears stories of people being targeted
Last year, around 5000 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 feel like they'll be blamed or that they didn't know how to approach them.
Mair is 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.
"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?'
"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."
Stay tuned to Northsound 1 all this week as we continue our investigation, including a look at how few people report spiking to the Police, what powers Police have and need to tackle offenders, and what campaigners say is needed to end the spiking epidemic.
Signposting services
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
And there's more on the Rape Crisis website if you'd like to explore it there