Prep for extended study: Research

Spiking (https://www.unitestudents.com/the-common-room/health-and-wellbeing/drink-spiking-what-is-it-and-how-can-you-prevent-it) Since 2015, the number of reported instances of spiking has more than doubled according to figures from UK police forces. These vary depending on what you've been spiked with, but common symptoms include: • Lowered inhibitions • Confusion • Lack of coordination and slurred speech • Nausea • Hallucinations • Vomiting • Paranoia • Unconsciousness How to help a spiking victim If your friend is showing signs of being spiked, here's what to do: • If you're at a bar, tell the manager or door staff. If you're at a party, tell the host. • Stay with your friend and keep talking to them • Call an ambulance if their condition deteriorates • If you're on your own, call someone you trust for support How to avoid having your drink spiked The most important things to do are never leave your drink unattended, never accept a drink from somebody you don't know, and don’t drink anything that you didn’t see being poured. You can also use a Spikey, which goes inside the neck of the bottle and stops anything being dropped into it. Or, keep your thumb over the top of your bottle in between sips. https://www.honeey.co.uk/spikey-anti-drugdate-rape-bottle-stoppers/spikey-bottle-stopper ‘Girls night in’ protest: A movement that circulated across the country in October-November 2021, where people boycotted clubs for one night. Ask for Angela (https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan-police/areas/about-us/about-the-met/campaigns/ask-for-angela/) People who feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and asking them for ‘Angela’. This code-phrase will indicate to staff that they require help with their situation and a trained member of staff will then look to support and assist them. This might be through reuniting them with a friend, seeing them to a taxi, or by calling venue security and/or the police. But does it work? (https://metro.co.uk/2021/11/13/weve-been-testing-ask-for-angela-and-it-doesnt-often-work-15568159/) ‘In a poll of over 2,000 people conducted via Catcalls Of London and shared exclusively with Metro.co.uk, people anonymously reported the reasons they hadn’t ever used Ask For Angela. ‘I’m not convinced bar staff will be trained for it/know what it is. I’m also not sure hospitality workers would pick up on it. They’re so busy anyway,’ one person said. ‘Felt like it wasn’t meant to be used by someone like me (trans masc nonbinary)’ another commented, highlighting an inclusivity issue with the scheme that one security worker called a ‘girls club’, owing to the fact that posters are often only positioned in women’s toilets when they are used.’’ Drink spiking in Manchester: ‘Being spiked seemed to be my fault’ (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-58869991, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59038026) "Cover your glass, keep your drink with you at all times, never accept from strangers." If you head out to pubs and clubs, you will likely be very familiar with this guidance. But women have told the BBC that the advice alone is not enough and more needs to be done to prevent drink spiking. "Being spiked seemed to be my fault and some people will not believe you unless it goes to the extreme," she says. Laura-Louise strongly believes the punishment for drink spiking should be the same as that for supplying Class A drugs. She adds: "As a woman, why do we always have to be hyper-aware and go above and beyond to ensure our safety and security?" "I think the only really viable solution is to teach people from a young age that they are not entitled to anyone else's body. "There needs to be harsher punishments for spiking offences because as sad as it sounds it is not often taken seriously or actually prosecuted properly." Spiking has been around forever: "We believe the reports come from a combination of factors including the release from strict lockdown restrictions, the domino effect of women speaking out about sexual assault and the annual increase which seems to appear when new students arrive on campus," a spokeswoman said. "It is a blessing and a problem - because some people are scaremongering - but it is so important to spread awareness and that counteracts it." She said her friends took precautions, such as covering their drinks, but it did not guarantee their safety. “With the fear of being injected - how am I meant to prevent this? How do I look after my friends?” "With government support from the women's safety at night fund from the Home Office, we will see schemes launched over the coming weeks across the UK, which will work on disseminating initiatives around education, communication and protection. Thoughts • Blame needs to be shifted – are clubs and their security doing enough? Should there be an increase in punishment? • Awareness needs to continue – spiking was a huge outburst in October – it has now died down in conversations but still happens • Questionnaire – Gather some primary research from friends and age group – Personal experiences of being spiked/knowing someone who has/how did the clubs react? • There is already a lot of information about how people can protect themselves and how to recognise the signs, yet these posters are not very engaging • Design biodegradable covers for bottles/cups? • Clubs need to be a safer and more inclusive space – ‘girls just wanna have fun’