Plan to prevent drink spiking

Drink spiking can happen at any time. Make a plan, know the signs, intervene safely, and get help when you need it.

Drink ​spiking happens when someone chooses to put a substance, such as drugs​ or ​alcohol​​, in someone else’s drink without them knowing. This is ​often ​done with the intent to cause harm and can lead to sexual assault​​. Drink spiking can happen to anyone​, anytime​​

​​Make a plan before you go out to reduce your risk of harm and help increase the safety of your community. 

Make a plan

Talk to your friends about what you can do to protect yourselves and each other when you go out. Consider these things:

• Stick together:
  • Go out with trusted friends and look out for each other
  • Keep an eye on your surroundings
  • Check in regularly throughout the night
  • Use code words to let your friends  know you’re uncomfortable in a situation
  • Notice each other's intoxication level, and if someone's behavior seems "off" or changes suddenly
• Watch your drinks:
  • Watch a trusted server or bartender pour your drink
  • Don't accept drinks from people you don't know
  • When possible, opt for bottled or canned beverages that you open yourself
  • Always keep your drink in your hand and never put it down or leave it unattended, even briefly
• Plan ahead:
  • Talk about what kind of sketchy or suspicious behavior might raise concerns, especially if the behavior is coming from someone you know
  • Identify which staff at the bar or restaurant you could talk to if you see someone exhibiting concerning behavior
  • Before you go out, think about what you might say to staff or what might be helpful to you if you are concerned for your safety
  • If a friend's drink does get spiked and you intervene, think about how you might keep your friend safe and away from the person who spiked it
• Trust your gut and don't normalize the behavior:
  • Challenge jokes or talk that supports drink spiking and sexual assault and/or rape
  • People you know and care about might spike someone’s drink. It is not always a stranger. Trust your intuition and intervene when you feel safe to, or alert someone if you are suspicious that someone you know may plan to spike a drink.

Know the signs

Know the signs of drink spiking:

• Quick, extreme, unexpected intoxication
• Inability to stand, see, speak, or concentrate
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden changes in body temperature

• Loss of bladder/bowel control 

Interrupt or intervene

If you see someone in the process of spiking a drink:

• Keep the person from drinking it: tell them or the people they are with it might have been spiked, "accidentally" spill it, offer to get them a new one, etc.
• If it’s safe to do so, address the behavior directly: say what you saw happen, tell the person doing it that you saw, report it to the establishment
• Get help: alert people around you to the situation and seek support from friends, staff, and/or security 

If you think you or someone you know has had their drink spiked:

• Stay with a trusted person. Activate your plan to keep yourself or your friend safe from the person who spiked the drink. 
• Report it to staff. Find a server, bartender, host, or security worker at the establishment.
• Seek medical support. Go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 in a life-threatening emergency.

Know how to get help

• If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault due to drink spiking, it’s not your fault. Contact your nearest Rape Crisis Center for support. Anonymous, confidential Rape Crisis Center hotlines are also available 24/7.
  • If you suspect you or someone you know may have been sexually assaulted, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) are available to perform a trauma-informed medical forensic exam at hospitals across the Commonwealth. Learn more and find locations for SANE exams.
• If you or someone you know has had their drink spiked, but not experienced assault: seek medical care at your local emergency room. You may have injuries you’re not aware of, and having evidence of this crime will help you keep your future options open.
  • If the person cannot be awakened or is having trouble breathing, call 911 for emergency medical treatment. Learn about where to go for medical care when you are sick or hurt.
• If you (or someone you know) has spiked drinks in order to cause harm: Find support to change your (or their) behavior and taking accountability. Organizations like A Call for Change Helpline can help.

If you work at a bar or restaurant

Drink spiking often happens in bar and restaurant environments. If you work at a bar, club, or restaurant, you are in a unique position to help prevent drink spiking and to intervene if it has happened.

Bars and nightlife establishments that want to gain skills to increase safety for patrons, bystander intervention trainings can provide you with skills and knowledge to increase safety for patrons. Programs like Safe Bars work specifically with the hospitality and nightlife industry to help alcohol-serving spaces create safe, welcoming, and respectful environments for their patrons and staff. 

Download social media assets

The following is a preview of the social media images you can use in a carousel post. These 6 images are included in the zip file for download.

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4 tips to stay safe. Plan to prevent drink spiking.

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Tip 1: Stick together. Go out with trusted friends and look out for each other. If someone seems "off" or their behavior changes suddenly, intervene and seek help.

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Tip 2: Ensure a safe pour. Buy your own drinks when you can. Watch a trusted server or bartender pour your drink.

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Tip 3: Watch your drink. Always keep your drink in your hand. Never put it down or leave it unattended, even briefly.

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Tip 4: Safely intervene. Have a plan for what to do if you see something suspicious. Trust your gut: tell staff or check in with the person whose drink may have been spiked. You can even spill their drink.

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If you or someone you know has been affected by drink spiking, or if you want more information on prevention, go to mass.gov/DrinkSpiking.

Download the Drink Spike carousel package (.zip) 

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