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PO Box 1124, Morwell, 3840
mail@gippscasa.org
Phone: 03 5134 3922

In Australia and overseas there is an increasing awareness about sexual assault and more recently about the issue of drink spiking....

The Australian Bureau of Statistics from 1996 Women's Safety Survey concluded that 21.3% of sexual assaults of adult women occur at and around licensed premises.

The use of alcohol and/or other drugs as a premeditated path to sexually assaulting young people is becoming more prevalent. Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault (GCASA) provides a weekend on-call service whereby if a victim reports to either the Crisis Line service or police GCASA will be consulted and available to attend. In cases where drink spiking is suspected it is very important to undergo very timely medical treatment and possible forensic examination, or at least toxicology testing to determine substance ingestion. The time frame where most drugs or alcohol begins to pass through the human body is within 24-36 hours after ingestion. The drink spiking campaign aims to reach women before they become victims but also to provide support should they believe they may have become a victim.

The law acknowledges the inability to give free consent to sexual activity when:

• Unconscious
• Severely drug or alcohol affected
• Asleep

The effects of drink spiking depend largely on what substance may have been used to spike drinks as well as how individuals react. Common side effects include:

• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Memory Loss
• Dizziness
• Loss of Consciousness
• Paralysis
• Euphoria
• Sedation
• Muscle Relaxation
• Distorted Judgment or Memory
• Affected Speech

Strategies to minimise potential harm of drink spiking include:

• Being aware of this practice and alert for potential drink spikers
• Stick with trusted friends
• Watch your drink even when being made by bar staff or other people you know even if it's not alcohol
• Avoid tasting or exchanging drinks with others
• Refuse "gift" drinks from open containers
• Discard unattended drinks
• Discard any drink that tastes strange
• Watch your friends. If they look disproportionately intoxicated or appear to behave out of character take steps to ensure their safety.
• If you suspect yours or a friend's drink has been spiked seek immediate medical assistance and alert them to the possibility of drink spiking. Blood and urine tests can validate your belief. Police can intervene if you report the matter and you have a suspicion as to who and how your drink was tampered with.

For information, support and counselling concerning drug facilitated sexual assault phone Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault on 03 5134 3922.

If a victim is sexually assaulted in Victoria, after hours, that victim can access crisis counselling, support and information by contacting the statewide Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 806 272