Nanaimo RCMP have issued a warning about spiked drinks after a woman at a nightclub reported seeing a foreign substance in her glass.
She immediately stopped drinking and alerted staff, who called the police.
The woman did not have any adverse reactions and did not require medical attention.
Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien said police issued the warning “out of an abundance of caution.”
“The patron did the correct thing, which allowed our officers to initiate an investigation.”
Police said incidents of drinks being spiked with so-called “date-rape” drugs are not limited to nightclubs, and can happen at any social gathering.
Those drugs include Rohypnol — the trade name for flunitrazepam — sometimes called “roofies,” and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate or GHB, both central nervous system depressants.
Effects can include instantly feeling drunk, sleepy, confused or disoriented, police said. Victims can also become dizzy and may have trouble standing or walking.
According to HealthLinkBC, GHB — a clear, odourless liquid that looks like water — can cause difficulty breathing, memory loss, being conscious but unable to move, and loss of consciousness. When flunitrazepam, a tasteless, odourless tablet, is mixed with alcohol, it can render someone unconscious. It can also induce amnesia.
HealthLinkBC says both drugs can lead to death when mixed with alcohol or other depressant drugs.
O’Brien said anyone who suspects their drink has been spiked is advised to alert their friends, stay with others and seek medical aid immediately.
Signs of a spiked drink can include a muddy or cloudy appearance and the formation of excessive bubbles, police said.
Call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 with any information on drinks being spiked.
