3. WHAT ARE THE BEST SAFEGUARDS?

• Make a plan - Plan your journey or night out, arranging your journey to-and-from home
• Make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you will be home
• When going to a pub, club, student event or party avoid going alone. Friends can watch-out for each other
• Stay aware of what is going on around you & away from situations you do not feel comfortable with

• Never accept a drink from anyone you do not completely trust and do not share or exchange drinks
• Don’t leave your drink unattended, even when going to the toilet
• Drugs can be put in soft drinks, tea, coffee, hot chocolate etc., as well as alcohol
• There are a number of drugs that could be used to incapacitate you; the majority will not be easily detectable in a drink
• Drinking from a bottle and keeping your thumb over the top is a good idea. If you leave it unattended you may not be able to see if anything has been put in it

• If you return to your drink and it has been moved, looks different, appears to have been topped-up, or tastes strange, don't take a chance. If there is the opportunity to test it, do so
• Consider very carefully whether you should leave the pub, club or party with someone you have just met. Just knowing someon'es mobile number means nothing
• If you begin to feel really drunk after only a drink or two, seek help from a trusted friend, or a member of the club or pub management. It is important to get to a place of safety as soon as possible

4. WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE BEEN DRUGGED

• If you are with a friend you trust, tell them why you're worried. Get them to help you home, BUT BE CAREFUL WHO YOU TRUST - statistics suggest 70% of victims know thir attacker
• If you are alone or with a stranger, go to the venue manager or security and ask for their help; if you are female, try to seek help from someone also female and try to tell more than one person. Wait in their office while they ring your parents, a friend or a LICENSED taxi to take you home
• Don't let a stranger help you - they could be the person who spiked your drink

5. REPORTING THE INCIDENT

• Report the incident to the police as soon as possible. Most of the drugs that are commonly used leave the body very quickly - some in less than 12 hours - and are therefore hard to detect, the sooner you are tested the more chance you have of it still being in your system
• If you fear you have been raped whilst under the influence of drugs, taken willingly or not - report it. Go straight to the police and insist that they take a blood and urine sample, it could prove to be vital forensic evidence.
• Make sure you are accompanied by a friend or even better, a solicitor. Also after the police make sure you visit your doctor or a GU clinic. Never forget the risk of aids
• The police are very anxious to point out that anyone reporting being raped whilst under the effect of drugs will NOT be prosecuted for drug taking and will be treated as a normal rape victim