Cops urge drinkers to report spiking ASAP

NT POLICE have urged anyone who suspects they are a victim of drink spiking to report it immediately.

Acting Commander of the Greater Darwin Area Peter Gordon said police can be left with no evidence if potential drink-spiking victims prolong seeking medical treatment and a sample.

"Often people make reports a day later, by which time there is very little, if no chance of analysis of samples provided showing any trace of drink-spiking drugs," he said.

"This leaves police with no evidence of spiking of drinks unless someone actually witnessed it occurring.

"We believe that prevention is the best method to deal with drink spiking.

"Don't leave drinks unattended and be careful consuming drinks supplied by people you may not know -- that's the best advice we can provide for your safety.

"If someone else is buying for you it could be they are spiked with alcohol -- they may have a higher content than you're aware of."

There have been no prosecutions for alleged drink spiking in NT but police remained vigilant working in conjunction with licensed premises and agencies to educate the public.

There was also a chance that in some cases reported people had wrongly assumed their drink had been spiked.

"We are concerned that in some cases illicit drugs may be the cause for adverse reactions suffered by people in the social scene," he said.

Drug Enforcement Section Superintendent Kris Evans added ingredients of illicit drugs such as speed and ecstasy can vary greatly. "People are really playing Russian roulette with their health because they don't know what's been added," he said. "The labs that are set up for the manufacture of such drugs are certainly not sterile environments and ... the drugs' content and strength can vary greatly.

"If someone walked up to you and said here take this and you had no idea of where it was made or what it contained or what effect it may have on you I think you'd be pretty foolish to trust them and consume it.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Mon, 17 October 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Greg McLean
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/