[Toy Soldier]

This is an increasing (and quite terrifying, especially as a dad of girls) crime, definitely something that everyone needs to be aware of and also something that venues should be taking action to combat. In recent years there's been huge increased awareness of drink spiking and people generally knowing not to leave drinks unattended, and even covers to put over drinks to stop people spiking them... so perverts have gotten creative, and have been injecting women in busy bars and clubs where people are sometimes packed tightly together.

It's been known to be on the rise in various Scottish cities, but there have been reports from all across the UK (e.g. the link below, Nottingham has had cases).

Police Scotland is investigating claims that women on nights out were spiked using injections.

Reports had been made to police in Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow and Aberdeen but the force said it did not think the cases were connected.

An 18-year-old student living in Aberdeen said she believed she had been spiked with a needle last Friday.

She was unwell for days, and noticed what she thought was a needle mark on her skin.

Aberdeen University student Emma, who asked for her surname not to be used, told BBC Scotland that even though she did not drink any more than usual, she had no recollection of the night after 01:30 on Saturday morning.

Friends made sure she got home safe but throughout the next day, Emma recalled feeling dizzy with hot and cold flushes.

She said she could not move without throwing up.

Emma added that "something just felt wrong" and it was not a hangover. She also noticed a mark on her chest, which she thought looked like a puncture with bruising surrounding it.

Emma added: "I wouldn't have even thought to check if I hadn't seen posts about it by other people online."

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The teenager reported the incident to police but said she felt "dismissed" by officers.

She said she was told there was nothing officers could do because she had not had blood samples taken - and so there was no proof she had been spiked.

Emma said: "They told me to stick with my friends and be safe, [I feel] but this isn't something you can prevent from happening.

"It's not as if my drink was spiked."

NHS Grampian said anyone who suspected they had been spiked should seek medical advice;

via their GP
NHS 24
or an emergency department, *depending on the severity of the issue).
Police have investigated reports of drink spiking for years, although very few cases have been prosecuted.

Police Scotland said it was aware of posts circulating on social media about spiking incidents involving injections in Scotland.

It said officers were carrying out inquiries, and a small number of reports from the Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow and Aberdeen areas were being investigated.

A spokesperson added: "These do not appear to be linked. We take all reports seriously and we would encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of spiking in any form to contact police via 101."

Drugs used in drink-spiking are often referred to as "date-rape drugs", although they are not always used for sexual assault. Officers have previously said drinks are sometimes spiked "as a prank".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58979731

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...shire-58977839

https://metro.co.uk/2021/10/21/needl...lubs-15461751/