What's your Poison?

by Patsy Collins
^{(creative writers at www.morewriting.co.uk)}
Phil, the barman at Niave, strides into the club demanding,"Boss what's going on? Why wouldn't you let us clear up the bar last night?"

"Ah Phil, come and meet Jamie and Sue. They're conducting a survey," Mr Roberts says.

"What's this about then?"

"We're checking for evidence of spiked drinks," Sue explains. "We're working with the police and the Roofie Foundation. We need to know how wide-spread the problem is before we can tackle it."

"Do you think all our customers are junkies then?"

"No. We're here to establish if there is a problem, and try to reduce any problems there might be."

"What you looking for, heroin, ecstasy, cocaine?"

"No, not that sort of drug."

"Oh soft stuff. I know a few of them smoke the odd joint. Suppose I shouldn't, but I turn a blind eye. It's not like they're dealing. They're not doing anyone any harm, you lot are just busy bodies wanting to ruin the kids fun and our livelihoods. Fun and nothing else, that's what this club is about."

"No no, we mean Ketamine, GHB, do you know what I'm talking about?"

"Are they what's known as date rape drugs?"

"Yes."

"Oh give the kids a break. That stuff's just to spice up their love lives a bit."

"Do you know what these drugs actually do?"

"Makes you pretty relaxed, more open to suggestion. More adventurous. I'm sure nothing serious happens here. This is a proper night club, not some seedy bar."

"They make the victims so relaxed as you call it, that they are unable to control their own bodies, they can't struggle or even call for help as they are raped. I'm afraid spiking can happen anywhere. My daughter came here, she told me that you do nothing to prevent spiking and that she thought it might be happening here. I banned her from coming and contacted your boss," Paul says.

"Phil, a girl who'd been drinking here was taken home by two men who raped her," Mr Roberts explains. "Unfortunately she was too embarrassed to seek help immediately. By the time she told the police there was no evidence and she can't remember enough about the attack to describe her attackers."

As Phil and Sue have been talking, Jamie, with help from Mr Roberts, has tested dregs from most of the glasses. Jamie shows them some test papers with their dark blue marks.

"Look, glasses from three different tables are positive for GHB."

"Well, Phil," Sue says, "that means three people, at least, left here last night after drinking something spiked with drugs. One glass was fruit juice, the person who ordered that could well have been driving."

"Yeah, well they'll have slept it off by now. Hope they were careful about how much they took and who they left with though." Phil is now a little less blasé about the situation.

"These drugs act very quickly, and you're right they do leave the body quickly. If there's no permanent damage it can be difficult to prove a few days later that you were spiked. That doesn't make them less serious. Phil, GHB or gamma Hydroxybutyrate is a sedative of the central nervous system. It causes drowsiness, nausea, seizures, or severe respiratory depression," Jamie explains.

"What's that mean then?" Phil interrupts in a quiet voice.

"It stops you breathing properly. It can make you unconscious or put you in a coma. Then there's Ketamine. That one's legal; as a veterinary anaesthetic. Vets prescribe it to knock out horses. Even low doses can cause permanent memory loss. Both can be fatal."

"Would you take either of those voluntarily or give them to someone you care about?" asks Sue. It's a rhetorical question.

"You can test for this stuff, so perhaps we could too?" Phil asks.

"Yes, it's possible to buy testing kits that can be used by you or the customer."

"Boss," Phil addresses Mr Roberts, "get some of those in stock. No one is taking a sip from a drink that I've poured without the chance of checking that it's safe."

"I see your point, Phil," Mr Roberts admits. "I agree that we must protect the girls who drink here, but we don't want to put customers off. I do have to make a living. If we start testing drinks then the girls will get scared and the men will be offended."

"Mr Roberts, Phil, I think you might not have understood what we're trying to do here."

"You want to catch people who spike drinks, don't you, Sue?"

"Only in part. It's more important to raise awareness therefore stopping it happening to start with."

"So how can we do that?" Mr Roberts asks.

"By taking an interest yourself, as you are doing. Find out as much as you can and pass on the information to your staff too. We'll give you a supply of leaflets, perhaps putting posters in the toilets would be a good idea?"

"Right you are, we'll put one in the ladies."

"And the gents," Sue suggests. "That way men will know you're aware of spiking and it might put them off, and don't forget men can be victims too."

"Really?" Phil asks.

"Yes, as well as a sexual motive, people can be spiked before being robbed. Sometimes people even do it to their friends as a prank."

"Right, posters everywhere, we'll get in testing kits and we'll all read your leaflets. Is there anything customers can do to help themselves?"

"Plenty. Mostly simple common sense stuff, such as planning a night out, especially the journey home and make sure someone knows where you are."

"Shouldn't young people do that anyway?!"

"They should, but often don't."

"Go on."

"Try to go out with a friend and watch out for each other. Make sure someone watches the drinks, if there's no one to do this, keep it with you, even when you go to the toilet. Bottles are more difficult to spike than glasses, especially if they have a straw in."

"Yes, I suppose it would be tricky to just drop something in without anyone noticing. Maybe it's better not to accept drinks from people you don't know, if you don't see it poured out and then take it immediately."

"Exactly, you're getting the idea."

"What should someone do if they think a drink might have been spiked?"

"Tell someone immediately, a friend or a member of staff. If that happens here then call the police and get them medical treatment."

"We'll get on with all you suggestions right away, won't we boss?"

"Yes, and I think we'll do a few random testings, that should reassure people and let would be spikers know they're not likely to get away with it. Perhaps you could come back in a few weeks time and see how we're doing?"

"Yes, we'll do that," Jamie agrees. "And my daughter will do some unofficial checks too."

"You'll let her come here again? If I had a daughter I don't think I'd want her going to a single pub, club or bar."

"I don't want to stop people having fun. She's a sensible girl, who knows the dangers. If she comes with people she trusts, and leaves with them, she'll be fine in a place like this, that takes a responsible attitude."

"Fun and safety, that's what this club is about."

Note - as well as information and training, the Roofie Foundation can offer confidential advice if you feel you may have been the victim of a spiker. 24 hour help line - 0800 783 2980 www.roofie.com.