Teen blacks out after spiked drink

GEORGE NEWS - These are the words of a local teenage girl whose drink was allegedly spiked during a party at a friend's house.

"We arrived at around 20:00. Everything seemed fine and I knew everybody there. I felt safe and relaxed. We were just walking around and chatting to our friends.

"The last I remember is doing a Facebook update at 21:30. After that everything is a blur," she said.

Her mother told the George Herald they received a message from one of her friends at around 23:00 that night.

"It said that she had a terrible turn and was in an ambulance. We could not in our wildest dreams have pictured what waited for us. When we arrived she was out cold. She looked dead. It was the worst feeling ever."

After paramedics assured them that their daughter was fine her parents took her home and put her to bed.

Traces of rape drug
The next day they took the teenager for a couple of tests and traces of what could be a date rape drug was found in her system.

"To all kids out there, be careful when you go to parties. This could have turned out so much worse, she could have been raped or even died from that drug.

"Just thinking of what could have happened scares me the most, and I am not the only parent angry about this specific party, apparently there are some of the kids who are upset about the things that went on there.

"When I left there were two young boys vomiting like mad..... hectic," her mother posted on Facebook the following day.

From the comments on the Facebook post, it is clear this is not an isolated incident.

Many people have come forward saying that the same thing happened to them, or to someone they know.

"Luckily she had friends there who looked after her. We suspect that it is someone she knows who played a nasty trick on her with eyedrops, but whether there was any intent in the alleged spiking or not, the consequence could have been dire.

"These incidents do not only happen in the big cities. It is a local reality and parents and children of George should be vigilant at all times," the teen's mother told the George Herald.

Use the buddy system
Many of the symptoms of ingesting a spiked drink are similar to the effects of alcohol intoxication.

To reduce your risk of a crime, an adverse reaction or an overdose, use the buddy system.

Whenever you go to a place where alcohol will be consumed, have a designated driver or a sober friend keep an eye on your drinking patterns and monitor your whereabouts throughout the night.

Never go to a new club or a party without letting someone know where you'll be.

Signs to look out for