31 December 2006

Watch out for drink spiking this New Years Eve

New Years Eve partygoers need to be aware of the dangers of drink spiking with sedatives such as GHB, Health Minister John Hatzistergos said today.

Mr Hatzistergos said when preparing for a night out, it is important to remember the following points to protect yourself against such incidents:

• Plan your night out and tell people where you are going.
• Never accept a drink from a stranger or leave drinks unattended, particularly if the bottle has been opened.
• Tell bar staff if you see someone spiking drinks.

"One of the most important things to remember is to keep an eye out for your friends" Mr Hatzistergos said.

"GHB has been referred to as a so-called 'date-rape' drug because it can be added to a drink without leaving any visible trace.

"It is impossible to accurately gauge the strength of a dose as dealers experiment with their own 'backyard' recipes," he said.

Short-term effects include drowsiness, relaxation, dizziness and decreased inhibitions.

When taken in high doses the effects can include rapid drowsiness, muscle spasms, movement and speech impairments, disorientation, vomiting, convulsions, respiratory collapse and coma.

Mr Hatzistergos says drink spiking is a growing problem and men and women of all ages need to understand the potential dangers.

"Drinks spiking can put people in dangerous situations, such as having unsafe sex, unwanted pregnancy, violence, and criminal activity," he said.

A 2004 report by the Australian Institute of Criminology estimated that over a year

• between 3,000 and 4,000 suspected incidents of drink spiking occurred in Australia,
• approximately one third of these incidents involved sexual assault.

Based on analyses of police and sexual assault data the report found that:

• 4 out of 5 victims are female;
• it is estimated that about one third of all drink spiking incidents are associated with sexual assault;
• two thirds of suspected drink spiking incidents occur in licensed premises (although for sexual assault victims the location is equally likely to be at the victim or offender's home or another location).

Mr Hatzistergos warned pill and powder type drugs could be easily slipped into a person's drink within seconds. Extra alcohol can also be added. Some drugs have no taste, odour or visible trace, and drink spiking is not limited to just alcoholic beverages.

"If you feel any strange effects, such as dizziness, sleepiness or nausea, particularly after having only a small amount of alcohol, ask someone you know and trust to immediately take you somewhere safe," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"Don't drink a drink if you feel unsure about it and always remember that if you suspect your drink has been spiked, never drive your car. Take a cab, ask a friend for a ride or call an ambulance," he said.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au