Women In This County Have Increasingly Reported That Their Drinks Were Spiked: Learn How To Better Protect Yourself From Having This Happen To You
The county of Arlington, Virginia, has increasingly received reports of possible drink spiking. Now, the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) has published tips to protect yourself.
The term “drink spiking” refers to someone placing drugs or alcohol into another person’s drink without them knowing.
Not only is this act illegal, but combining unknown substances can be lethal for victims.
In October alone, the ACPD received six reports of drink spiking. All of the victims were female and reported losing consciousness.
They also suffered from memory loss after their nights out in Clarendon and Crystal City. The ACPD is actively investigating these incidents, which occurred between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. So far, no link between the six cases has been found.
Arlington County Police Spokesperson Ashley Savage said, “Unfortunately these are things that we do see in our community.”
“However, we did have a lot of restrictions on our nightlife during the pandemic. So, now as we get back into a more normal routine of people interacting with each other, it’s really important that our community is aware and takes the steps to keep themselves safe.”
The ACPD has established the Arlington Restaurant Initiative (ARI) “to raise the standards of restaurants that serve alcohol, streamline processes within the County Government and maintain Arlington County as a safe destination for nightlife and entertainment.”
The ARI offers training for various situations, including drink spiking.
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Besides this initiative, there are many precautions that customers can take to help prevent becoming a victim of drink spiking.
First, never place down your drink and leave it unattended. Also, do not accept any pre-made drinks from strangers and avoid sharing beverages with others.
If a stranger offers to buy you a drink, accompany them to the bar. This way, you will be able to watch your drink being made and ensure that it has not been tampered with.
You should only drink a beverage if you see it poured and handed directly to you.
Finally, look out for your friends as well. Having others’ backs while out on the town can save a life.
And, if you or anyone you know suspects that a drink has been spiked, you can call the Arlington County Police station at (703) 558-2222.
If you are not located in Arlington, simply dial 9-1-1 and the nearest precinct will assist you.
As nightlife returns, do have fun. But, always remember to protect yourself and those around you.
More About:Human Interest
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