Spiked drinks alert

FRIENDS out drinking have been advised to appoint a drinks watcher to
guard against them being spiked with drugs.

The warning from police follows an increase in complaints about spiked
drinks.

Queensland's medication help line also has been inundated with calls
from people who think their drinks have been tampered with.

Help line pharmacist Geraldine Moses said anyone who suspected they
had consumed a spiked drink should leave immediately and have a urine
sample tested as soon as possible.

The test can check for up to 300 drugs but must be done within 24
hours.

Inspector Peter Martin, in charge of police drug and alcohol co-
ordination, said most complainants believed they had been drugged at
larger inner city nightclubs and hotels.

"The stories people are telling us are that they go out with a group,
have one drink or two drinks or no drinks at all," Insp Martin said.

"The next thing they know many hours have elapsed and they've had a
period of amnesia consistent with being drugged.

"We don't know if it's illicit products or prescription drugs such as
Rohypnol."

He said people should not accept drinks from anyone they did not know,
and drinks should be watched by somebody trustworthy.