ORIGINAL ARTICLE
A study of patients presenting to an emergency department having had a "spiked drink"
1 Emergency Department, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Wrexham, Wales, UK
2 Biochemistry Department, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Wrexham, Wales, UK
3 Biochemistry Department, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, Wales, UK
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
MrHywel Hughes
Emergency Department, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Croesnewydd Road, Wrexham, Wales, UK; Hywel.hughes{at}new-tr.wales.nhs.uk
Objectives: To assess the scale of drink spiking in our area and identify which drugs are being used to spike drinks and also to assess whether there is a problem with drink spiking in any particular establishment.
Methods: A prospective study of all patients presenting to an emergency department with alleged drink spiking over a 12-month period. Samples were analysed for levels of alcohol and drugs of misuse. Information was collected as to where the alleged spiking took place and the involvement of the police.
Results: 75 patients attended with alleged drink spiking over the period of 12 months. 42 samples were analysed and tested positive for drugs of misuse in 8 (19%) cases. 65% of those tested had alcohol concentrations >160 mg%. The alleged spiking took place in 23 different locations, with 2 locations accounting for 31% of responses. Only 14% of those questioned had informed the police.
Conclusions: Most patients allegedly having had a spiked drink test negative for drugs of misuse. The symptoms are more likely to be a result of excess alcohol.
Abbreviations: GHB, 
-hydroxybutyrate
Relevant Article
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
Emerg. Med. J. 2007 24: 71.
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Burgess, A., Donovan, P., Moore, S. E. H.
(2009). Embodying Uncertainty?: Understanding Heightened Risk Perception of Drink 'Spiking'. Br J Criminol
49: 848-862
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Greene, S L, Shiew, C M, Streete, P, Mustchin, S J, Hugget, D, Earl, B, Dargan, P I
(2007). What's being used to spike your drink? Alleged spiked drink cases in inner city London. Postgrad. Med. J.
83: 754-758
[Abstract] [Full Text]
eLetters:
Read all eLetters
- 'Spiked' drink or voluntary drug use?
- Sam Al-Jafari
- EMJ Online, 20 Feb 2007 [Full text]
- Full Text
- Full Text (PDF)
- Submit a response
- Read responses to this article
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when eLetters are posted
- Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
- Email this link to a friend
- Similar articles in this journal
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
- Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Topic Collections
Bookmark with
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
