How To Recognize a Spiked Drink
Let's keep the FSU community strong. All Noles can take steps to be as safe as possible around others.
You cannot always tell when drinks have been spiked and you should be cautious about who you accept a drink from. Some substances used in drink spiking are odorless, colorless and tasteless, or can be hard to see if your drink is dark. Substances can also be placed on the outside of closed cans and bottles. If you accept a drink, wipe off any drink container whether it is open or closed.
SIGNS THAT A DRINK HAS BEEN SPIKED
- Salty or bitter taste: some spiking substances may taste salty or bitter.
- Foggy appearance: if your drink looks foggy or cloudy when it was clear before, it may have been tampered with.
- Excessive bubbles: some drugs fizz and bubble when they react to the contents of a beverage. If your non-carbonated drink is suddenly fizzy, don't drink it.
- Sinking ice: if your ice has sunk when it was floating before, don't drink it.
- Change in color: some drugs cause a drink's color to become lighter, darker, or even change completely. If your drink has turned a different color, or even if you think it has but aren't sure, don't drink it.
Many of the symptoms of drink spiking are similar to drinking alcohol. However, if a drink is spiked an individual may exhibit these symptoms after consuming minimal amounts of alcohol:
DRINK SPIKING SYMPTOMS
- Feeling drunk, woozy or drowsy
- Feeling “out of it” or drunker than expected
- Mental confusion
- Speech difficulties (such as slurring)
- Memory loss
- Loss of inhibitions
- Nausea and vomiting
- Breathing problems
- Muscle spasms or seizures
- Lowered body temperature and blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness
- An unusually long hangover
- A severe hangover when you had little or no alcohol to drink
How to Report if You Suspect Drink Spiking
We strongly encourage you to report suspected drink spiking. It is important that we know the occurrence, location, and timing of such incidents.
If you have an EMERGENCY or need IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE, please call 9-1-1. For a non-emergency on or around campus please call FSUPD (850) 644-1234.
Look out for your friends, and ask them to look out for you. You can play a powerful role in helping other people stay safe.
SAFETY TIPS WHEN GOING OUT
- Be aware of drinks in punch bowls or other containers that can be easily “spiked” (when alcohol or another drug is added to a drink without permission).
- Don’t accept drinks from other people. If someone offers to get you a drink from a bar or at a party, go with the person to order your drink. Watch your drink as it is poured and carry it yourself.
- Open your drink yourself. Keep control of it at all times.
- Don’t drink anything that smells strange. Stop drinking any drink that tastes strange. Some drugs that could be added to drinks may taste salty or bitter, but most are tasteless and odorless.
- Drugs can be placed on the outside of closed cans and bottles. If you accept a drink, wipe off any drink container whether it is open or closed.
- Don’t drink more than you want to just because someone else wants you to. Don’t drink more than you want to so that someone else will like you or be impressed.
- Get help right away if you feel drunk and haven’t had any alcohol or if you feel like the effects of drinking alcohol are stronger than usual. Find a friend who can help you get to a safe place.
- Look out for your friends, and ask them to look out for you. You can play a powerful role in helping other people stay safe. If a friend seems out of it, seems much too drunk for the amount of alcohol they drank, is acting out of character, or seems too drunk to stay safe in general, get them to a safe place. Ask your friends to do the same for you.
- Get support even if you can't remember exactly what happened. Some substances used in drink spiking can cause short-term memory loss, are odorless, colorless and tasteless, or can be hard to see if your drink is dark.
If you see an unsafe situation, learn how to be an active bystander and create a community that does not tolerate drink spiking.
BE AN ACTIVE BYSTANDER
- Direct: Stop the person immediately if the behavior is dangerous. Take the substance away to keep them from drinking or using. Take their keys away to stop them from driving.
- Distract: If the person is in a risky situation, invite them to join you in a safer environment and stay with them.
- Delegate: Find someone else who can intervene – bar staff, an organization leader, or someone who knows the person better.
- Delay: If you’re not able to intervene in the moment, and the problem isn’t urgent, follow up the next day to calmly share your concerns about how substance misuse is affecting them. What specific behaviors worried you?
- Document: Take a screenshot if you see a concerning text or social media post and follow up.
Be kind. Consider how you would want someone to help you if the roles were reversed. Make sure you don’t leave anyone in a situation that may be dangerous to themselves or others.
The Department of Student Conduct and Community Standards is responsible for upholding community behavior standards and educating FSU students on how to responsibly engage with the FSU community, which includes policy about drink spiking.
DRINK SPIKING AND THE STUDENT CONDUCT CODE
It is prohibited under FSU’s Student Conduct Code to intentionally or negligently insert or cause ingestion of a foreign substance into the body of another person without their consent. This includes but is not limited to drugs and substances not meant for human consumption. This is considered endangerment and is a violation of the Student Conduct Code.
If you feel like you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. Any person with a concern regarding endangerment should report as soon as possible at report.fsu.edu.
Additional Resources
Seminole SAFE Mobile App
The SeminoleSAFE app is your official mobile safety tool from Florida State University. It is built from a collaboration of multiple campus entities including FSU Police, Emergency Management, Dean of Students, University Health Services, Student Counseling Center, Environmental Health & Safety, Housing, Athletics, Facilities and many more.
Victim Advocate Program
If you or someone you care about has been the victim of a crime, you may need to talk with someone about your options. Advocates are available 24/7 but if necessary leave a message with your name and a safe way to contact you and we will reach out to you before the end of the day.
Call 24/7: (850) 644-7161
or TEXT (850) 756-4320
Green Dot Bystander Intervention at FSU
https://knowmore.fsu.edu/know-more-initiative/green-dot
FSU Green Dot Bystander Trainings empower students to discover ways to be active bystanders and create a community that does not tolerate violence. Join Green Dot for a fun and interactive training session where you will learn how we can be reactive and proactive in ending power based personal violence in our community.
FSU Amnesty Policy
Florida State University (FSU) supports a safe and inclusive environment that enhances academic pursuits and student success. A Medical Amnesty Policy benefits our campus by encouraging students to make responsible decisions in seeking medical attention in serious or life-threatening situations that result from alcohol and/or other drug use or abuse and in any situation where medical treatment is reasonably believed to be appropriate. This policy seeks to diminish fear of disciplinary and conduct sanctions in such situations and to encourage individuals and organizations to seek needed medical attention for students in distress from alcohol and drug use.
For more complete information please visit the Florida State University Conduct Code or https://sccs.fsu.edu/policies/amnesty.
Living Intentionally, Finding Togetherness (LIFT) Collegiate Recovery Program
The mission of LIFT is to support students interested in recovery from addiction and substance misuse thrive during their college experience. LIFT views the process of recovery as "an individualized, intentional, dynamic, and relational process involving sustained efforts to improve wellness" (Recovery Science Research Collective, 2020). Students learn beneficial coping skills in an accountable recovery community where they can develop friendships with like-minded peers.
Center for Health Advocacy and Wellness (CHAW)
part of University Health Services
(850) 644-8871
chaw.fsu.edu
CHAW offers classes ranging from wellness coaching to SMART CHOICES. The purpose of these services are to introduce the student to a process of self-examination that may lead to improved decision making and behavior change.
SMART CHOICES is an alcohol/drug harm-reduction program for FSU students provided in an individual or a small group format. Students who are sanctioned by Student Conduct and Community Standards, the Department of Student Support and Transitions, or University Housing for on- or off-campus violations of the University’s alcohol and drug policy must complete the course.
Students who have not been sanctioned may also enroll in the course FREE of charge if they would simply like to gain more knowledge about alcohol. Students may contact the Center for Health Advocacy and Wellness at (850) 644-8871 if they would like to sign up for this informative course.
AlcoholEdu is offered for all incoming and transfer students at FSU that is administered online and provides personalized and confidential health information related to alcohol.
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
(850) 644-8255
counseling.fsu.edu
CAPS provides a structured two-session Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Evaluation for students who are sanctioned by the University for Violations of the University’s alcohol and drug policy. In addition to mandated AOD sessions, AOD Evaluations are available on a voluntary basis to all FSU students. Following the AOD Evaluation sessions, a recommendation is made to the student regarding need for counseling treatment. Counseling treatment is provided to students on a voluntary basis only. Any fee-paying student currently enrolled at Florida State University is eligible for services at CAPS. Please contact Counseling & Psychological Services for a current fee schedule.
Center For Couple & Family Therapy
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, therapy with a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) can help. MFTs are trained in systemic, or relational, therapy and believe that throughout life we exist in a number of relationships that directly and indirectly impact our well-being.
The Psychology Clinic
(850) 644-3006
https://psychology.fsu.edu/services/psychology-clinic
The Psychology Clinic is also a training clinic. Services are provided by doctoral level student therapists in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program under the close supervision of faculty members. They provide one-on-one psychology services (no support groups) to students, staff, faculty, and the community. Fees are based on a sliding scale.
Helpline 211
(850) 224-6333
www.211bigbend.org
Helpline 211 is a telephone counseling and referral service for short term counseling, information and referrals mainly for social services in the Big Bend area. Call (850) 224-6333 or 2-1-1.
Alcoholics Anonymous / Narcotics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous: (850) 224-1818
AA Website: intergroup5.org
Narcotics Anonymous:(850) 224-2321
