UK date rape drugs: Reports from multiple cities across the United Kingdom indicate women are allegedly being targeted with date rape drugs at nightclubs and pubs. Those speaking out have raised the alarm on the ease with which women's drinks can be spiked for potential harassment, assault or worse, claiming it points to a culture and system that disregards women's safety.
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Women's voices from places like Nottingham and Edinburgh, as quoted in the media, have prompted an outpouring of people sharing similar experiences on social media. Safety kits and tools to identify and prevent date rape drug attacks are doing the rounds online.
UK Date Rape Drugs Raise Alarm Of Women's Safety
1. Date rape drugs are substances used to intoxicate or incapacitate the consumer, preventing them from defending themselves in case of sexual assault, rape or molestation. Alcohol, spiked or roofied, is among the most common ways unsuspecting women are targeted in such cases of crimes. Though the phenomenon occurs beyond dates, it is named such for the frequency with which women have claimed they were drugged and assaulted by strangers or new acquaintances.
2. Survivors speaking up in cities in the UK claim to have been injected in their limbs while visiting nightclubs, as per reports. They allege they woke up without any memories from the previous night, but with pinpricks surrounded by bruises on the body.
3. The case of one Zara Owen, a 19-year-old collegegoer in Nottingham, was part of initial reports last week that brought notice to the issue. As per Nottinghamshire Live, she claims she went clubbing with friends on October 11 and wandered out alone at one point in the night, something that was "completely out of character" for her.
After her ordeal was reported in the media, others online began speaking about the disturbing phenomenon of date rape drugs on Twitter. Read some reactions below:
Man I got my shit spiked a couple days ago & only found out cuz I fell & hit my head & went to the emergency room & they let me know once I was conscious enough that I had a date rape drug in my system... I aint ever thought that would happen me shit was crazy I was so confused https://t.co/sAs4KARG5N
Also the stereotype of “you just drank too much” is the reason why many women don’t report incidents in which they believe they may have been drugged. It’s important to believe and support all victims - regardless of how peposterous you personally think their claims are
4. Labour Party politician Nadia Whittome tweeted she was taking cognisance of the matter and was "aware of extremely concerning reports of suspected spiking in Nottingham nightclubs, including by injection." She urged affected women to reach out to her or other authorities in Nottingham.
5. According to the BBC, police in Nottinghamshire said they were investigating the date rape drug reports and that they "do not believe that these are targeted incidents." One accused, a 20-year-old man, was reportedly held for possession of drugs suspected to administer poison but was later released on bail.
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