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How much attention do you pay to whats happening around you on anight out?
You may think youre being careful, but danger might be closer than you expect.
Shirah Benarde, founder of NightCap, set out to prove this in a recentTikTok video.
Shockingly, not a single person caught on.
Keep reading to find out how she pulled it off.
I was brainstorming after a photoshoot with my photographer, Mike OMalley, she explains.
He suggested using candy.
Her friends were shocked to find gummy worms floating in their drinks.
They had no clue when or where it happened, she shares.
Most didnt realize until I told them!
Being around friends gives a false sense of security, making us think we can let our guard down.
In reality, the person most likely to spike your drink is someone you know.
To promote safety, Benarde created NightCap, a special cover designed to prevent drinks from being spiked.
We wanted to demonstrate real scenarios to show how easily drink spiking can occur.
You never realize how quickly it can happen until it does.
Alarmingly, anotherstudyled by alcohol psychologistDr.
Emma Daviesrevealed that while most incidents occur in bars or clubs, a quarter happen in private homes.
This means that even in secure situations, theres still a chance someone could exploit our trust.
This makes it very difficult to tell if your drink has been tampered with.
Other substances, including GHB, are also hard to detect.
The reactions to being spiked differ from person to person.
It completely depends on what the drink has been spiked with, she adds.
In some cases, those affected may also have lowered inhibitions or even lose consciousness.
Reasons for this vary, but victims often face shame that discourages them from coming forward.
I couldnt feel my legs, I couldnt feel my arms, I couldnt speak properly, she shares.
Everyone I told gave me the same responses: Oh, it happens.
You should have been more careful; you should have watched your drink, she explains.
I was getting blamed.
Dr. Davies recognizes that the way society treats victims in cases of drink spiking is deeply concerning.
She encourages anyone who has experienced or suspects they have been spiked to reach out for support.
Talk to someone about itcontact a GP who can refer you for counseling if needed.
University students can also reach out to their welfare services, she advises.
All of these sources will listen, believe you, and provide individual support tailored to your needs.
Dr. Davies also notes that there is not enough attention given to those who commit drink spiking offenses.
I would really like to see more focus on the perpetrators of spiking.
Men can also be spiked, and they may find it even harder to seek help.
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