To spike a drink means to put alcohol or drugs into someone's drink without their knowledge or permission. Spiking also includes injecting someone with drugs without their knowledge or permission. A person’s drink can be spiked to make them more vulnerable for a variety of motives, including theft or sexual assault. Drink spiking is illegal.
Different types of spiking can include the following substances being added to drinks:
- Alcohol
- ‘Date rape’ drugs
- Illegal drugs
- Prescription drugs (e.g. stimulants, tranquilisers, sedatives, opiates)