I took a seat for my community
Violet’s drink was spiked by someone she trusted. Now, she’s joined the Youth Commission to share her story and make a change.
I took a seat for my community. For me, this isn’t just about sharing my story, it’s about making change. Spiking is way more common than people think. I want people to know they’re not alone and that we can do something about it.
I went to this party, I knew my friends were there, so I was really excited to see them. I was having a good time, chatting with my drink in one hand. Next? Nothing. Just black. I didn’t even realise what happened until my mate called an ambulance because I was so ill. At the hospital, they told me someone had spiked me, with a mix of drugs.
Blacking out and going to hospital was really horrible, but what made everything even worse was knowing someone I thought was a mate could do that to me. And honestly? I felt embarrassed, like I should’ve been more careful. But how was I supposed to know? You don’t expect to get spiked at a friend’s house.
At first, I was paranoid, anxious and didn’t trust anyone. It took me a while, but with the support of my mum and neighbours I found that there is lots of support out there and ways to quickly report it. I still get anxious sometimes, but now I know there are ‘safe spaces’ on a night out, which makes a big difference.
Spiking can happen to anyone, anywhere, and it’s never your fault. Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
Violet, Youth Commission Member
Spiking can happen to anyone, anywhere. And it’s never your fault. If I could tell my younger self one thing, it’d be: trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
If this has happened to you, talk to someone. It doesn’t have to be family, just someone you trust. Don’t deal with it alone, and don’t waste time blaming yourself. It wasn’t your fault. Spiking’s illegal and can get someone up to 10 years in prison, so if you can, let the police know straight away by reporting it
Everyone needs to help drive greater education and awareness - we already know to be cautious, but that’s not enough.
If you have been affected by any of the issues, raised by Violet, help and support is available.
Within your local communities you have access to a range of public services such as:
Victim support
West Yorkshire Police
Fearless (Crimestoppers)
Samaritans
