With thousands of Ohio State students going out to drink any given week, the prevention of drink spiking, or having an unknown substance slipped into a drink, might be the most effective tool to combat date-rape.
“There are (at) least 40 drugs that have been used in drug-rape cases,” said Trinka Porrata, a retired LAPD narcotics detective of 25 years and President of Project GHB, a group that raises public awareness about the dangers of gamma hydroxy butyrate and other club drugs.
Depressant drugs like GHB, Xanax and Valium can knock people unconscious. The use of them is underreported in drink spiking because of their quickness in leaving the body, and people unwilling to talk about them, Porrata said.
“Everyone talks about roofies, but it isn’t used any more widely than any other (depressant drink-spiking drug),” Porrata said.
The variety of drugs used in drink spiking has bar owners putting in extra measures to ensure customers’ safety.
Panini’s Bar and Grill on High Street has a guarded back door to make sure no foreign drinks get in or out. But with nighttime crowds that can exceed more than 100 people, Panini’s most useful aid might be the eyes of its security staff.
“We have security at all times looking down on the floor watching people’s drinks,” said Luke Martinson, Panini’s manager-in-training.
Bar employees, however, might have to watch more than just the customers when it comes to drink spiking.
“On occasion there have been bartenders or servers (around the country) involved in drink-drugging; doing it for a buddy or for pay,” Porrata said. “It is hard to say how often it happens, but it isn’t uncommon.”
Bartender Ron Trail has worked at Panini’s for a little more than a month and has never been approached to spike a drink, nor heard of a bartender doing so. Trail said customers are aware of potential dangers from drink spiking predators.
“People joke about not putting a drink on a table … I mean (drink spiking) is so talked about, but it doesn’t happen,” he said.
No matter what measures bar owners take, there might not be a better substitute for acting smart as an individual, Porrata said.
Going out to bars in groups and being watchful over offered drinks are some of the steps she advised people take to avoid their drink being spiked.
“Ideally, drink things that you can open yourself, but that’s of course very limiting,” Porrata said. “I recommend keeping a coaster on top of your drink between sips. Then the bad guy has to move it twice or use both hands to dose your drink.”
Martinson is confident of Panini’s security, but acknowledges that no security is foolproof.
“If somebody really wants to spike a drink they will do it,” he said.
Jim Baird can be reached at [email protected].
