Prospective study of 101 patients with suspected drink spiking.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cases of suspected drink spiking presenting to the ED by the prospective collection of standardized relevant historical, clinical and laboratory data.


METHODS
A prospective observational study of 101 patients presenting to metropolitan hospital ED with suspected drink spiking within the previous 12 h. Clinical history, including details surrounding the alleged drink spiking incident, and examination. Blood ethanol concentration measurement, together with the analysis of urine and blood samples for illicit and sedative drugs.


RESULTS
Of the 97 alleged drink spiking cases included, there were only 9 plausible cases. We did not identify a single case where a sedative drug was likely to have been illegally placed in a drink in a pub or nightclub. Illicit drugs were detected in 28% of the study group. Ethanol was commonly detected, with the mean number of standard drinks consumed being 7.7 +/- 3.9 SD, and the median blood ethanol concentration at the time of presentation was 0.096% (96 mg/dL). At follow-up there were no major sequelae and no police prosecutions. Thirty five per cent of patients still believed that they had been a victim of drink spiking irrespective of the results.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study did not reflect the current public perception of drink spiking. Drink spiking with sedative or illicit drugs appears to be rare. If drink spiking does occur, ethanol appears to be the most common agent used. Of greater concern was the frequency of illicit drug use and excessive ethanol consumption within the study population, making it difficult to determine whether a person had truly had a drink spiked.
Quigley
Paul
P
Department of Emergency Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Western Australia, Australia.
Lynch
Dania M
DM
Little
Mark
M
Murray
Lindsay
L
Lynch
Ann-Maree
AM
O'Halloran
Sean J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000032:analysis*; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012742:Sex Offenses; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D013287:Illicit Drugs