DRINK SPIKING DRUGS AND THEIR SYMPTOMS

GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid)

What Is It?
GHB is a central nervous system depressant that’s often used as a recreational drug, but unfortunately, it can also be used to spike drinks.

​

Common Symptoms:

• Drowsiness or extreme fatigue

• Confusion or mental fog

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Loss of motor control (e.g., difficulty walking or standing)

• Blackouts (memory loss)

• Nausea and vomiting

• Unconsciousness or semi-consciousness

• Slurred speech

• Euphoria followed by sudden and deep sleep

​

How It Works:
GHB works by slowing down your brain and body’s activity. It can make you feel relaxed, but in larger amounts, it can lead to unconsciousness.

​

Detection Window:

• Urine: Detectable for up to 12 hours

• Blood: Detectable for up to 8 hours

​

Forms:
Clear, odourless liquid. Sometimes sold as a powder.

Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam)

What Is It?

Rohypnol, often called “roofies,” is a powerful sedative that belongs to the benzodiazepine family. It’s frequently used in drink spiking due to its strong sedative effects.

​

Common Symptoms:

• Extreme sedation or drowsiness

• Loss of coordination and motor control

• Confusion or memory loss

• Blackouts (inability to remember events)

• Slurred speech

• Difficulty staying awake or staying alert

• Breathing problems

• Nausea or vomiting

​

How It Works:

Rohypnol causes a person to feel extremely sleepy or unconscious, often with no memory of what happened during the episode. This makes it a dangerous substance, especially when combined with alcohol.

​

Detection Window:

• Urine: Detectable for up to 72 hours

• Blood: Detectable for up to 24 hours

​

Forms:

Small, round tablets, usually white or green. It dissolves easily in liquids, making it difficult to detect in a drink. Can also appear in powder or liquid form.

Ketamine

What Is It?

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used medically in both humans and animals. It’s often abused recreationally for its hallucinogenic and dissociative effects, and it’s sometimes used to spike drinks.

​

Common Symptoms:

• Hallucinations or altered perceptions

• Confusion or disorientation

• Numbness (particularly in limbs)

• Loss of coordination and balance

• Delirium or “out-of-body” sensations

• Amnesia or memory gaps

• Trouble speaking or concentrating

• Nausea and vomiting

• Increased heart rate or blood pressure

​

How It Works:

Ketamine induces a state of dissociation, which means it detaches the person from reality. High doses can lead to complete unconsciousness, with the person unable to remember what happened.

​

Detection Window:

• Urine: Detectable for up to 48-72 hours

• Blood: Detectable for up to 24 hours

​

Forms:

Usually found as a white powder or clear liquid. It can be dissolved into a drink easily.

MDMA (Ecstacy)

What Is It?

MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy or "molly," is a stimulant that also has hallucinogenic properties. While it's often used recreationally at parties or clubs, it can be used for spiking drinks too.​

​

Common Symptoms:

• Heightened sense of euphoria

• Increased energy and alertness

• Sweating, jaw clenching, or teeth grinding

• Confusion or agitation

• Nausea

• Rapid heart rate

• Hallucinations

• Overheating or dehydration

• Anxiety or paranoia

​

How It Works:

MDMA floods the brain with serotonin, producing feelings of intense happiness and emotional closeness. However, it can also cause dangerous spikes in body temperature and dehydration.​

​

Detection Window:

• Urine: Detectable for up to 2-4 days

• Blood: Detectable for up to 24 hours

​

Forms:

Typically found as a powder or in pill form. It can be dissolved in a drink or snorted.

Cannabis (Weed)

What Is It?

Cannabis is a psychoactive drug that’s commonly used recreationally. Although not typically associated with drink spiking, it can be used to spike drinks in some cases.

​

Common Symptoms:

• Feeling "high" or euphoric

• Altered perception of time and space

• Dry mouth and red eyes

• Anxiety or paranoia

• Drowsiness or lethargy

• Loss of motor coordination (difficulty walking or controlling movement)

• Increased appetite

• Short-term memory issues

​

How It Works:

Cannabis affects the brain’s cannabinoid receptors, producing a sense of relaxation, euphoria, or anxiety. When used in large amounts, it can impair judgment and motor coordination.​

​

Detection Window:

• Urine: Detectable for up to 30 days (for regular users), up to 5-7 days for occasional users

• Blood: Detectable for up to 1-2 days

Forms:

Typically found as dried flowers or as an oil or concentrate. Cannabis edibles are also common.

Benzodiazepines (Other Sedatives)

What Is It?

Benzodiazepines (such as Valium, Xanax, and Ativan) are prescription medications used to treat anxiety and insomnia. These are sometimes misused to spike drinks due to their sedative properties.

​

Common Symptoms:

• Extreme sedation or drowsiness

• Loss of coordination or motor control

• Slurred speech

• Confusion or mental fog

• Loss of memory

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Respiratory depression (slowed breathing)

• Nausea and vomiting

​

How It Works:

Benzodiazepines enhance the effects of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which inhibits brain activity. They make you feel relaxed or sleepy, and in larger doses, they can cause unconsciousness.​

​

Detection Window:

• Urine: Detectable for 1-7 days, depending on the specific drug

• Blood: Detectable for up to 24-48 hours

​

Forms:

Usually available as pills or tablets.

Alcohol (Excess Alcohol)

What Is It?

While alcohol itself isn’t usually considered a "drug," drink spiking with excessive alcohol is still a form of spiking and can be just as dangerous.​

​

Common Symptoms:

• Sudden, severe intoxication (more than expected from the amount consumed)

• Dizziness or loss of coordination

• Slurred speech

• Nausea and vomiting

• Blackouts or memory gaps

• Confusion or altered mental state

• Loss of motor control

​

How It Works:

Spiking with extra alcohol (whether through adding more to the drink or switching it out with a stronger drink) leads to sudden and severe intoxication, which can impair your ability to protect yourself.​​

​

Detection Window:

• Urine: Detectable for up to 24 hours

• Blood: Detectable for up to 12 hours

Forms:

Any alcoholic beverage, from beer to spirits.

Methanol

What Is It?

Methanol is a toxic alcohol often found in counterfeit or improperly distilled alcoholic beverages. It is not intended for human consumption and can be extremely dangerous if ingested, even in small amounts.​​

​

Common Symptoms:

• Headache

• Dizziness or vertigo

• Nausea and vomiting

• Abdominal pain

• Blurred or complete loss of vision (can occur later in poisoning)

• Confusion or difficulty thinking

• Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing

• Severe cases: seizures, coma, or death

​

How It Works:

Methanol is metabolised in the body into toxic compounds like formaldehyde and formic acid, which cause damage to the central nervous system, eyes, and other organs. Symptoms often take hours to develop but escalate rapidly once they appear.​​

​

Detection Window:

• Urine: Detectable for up to 72 hours after ingestion.

• Blood: Detectable for 24 to 72 hours depending on dosage and time since exposure.

Forms:

Methanol is a clear, colourless liquid. It is typically found in:

• Counterfeit or unregulated alcoholic beverages

• Improperly distilled homemade alcohol

• Industrial solvents (though rare, these may accidentally contaminate drinks)

Scopolamine

Causes confusion, dizziness, and amnesia. It’s a tropane alkaloid used in motion sickness medication but can cause disorientation when misused.

LSD (Acid)

A hallucinogen that can cause disorientation, hallucinations, and loss of motor control. It has a shorter detection window than some other drugs but can have lasting psychological effects.

Toluene (Paint Thinner)

Rare, but can cause dizziness, nausea, confusion, and fainting.