UCC student 'begging' others to be vigilant after being drug spiked via needle

A UCC student who was spiked with drugs via needle at the weekend is "begging" others to be vigilant on nights out.

The young woman made the appeal via Instagram, where she posted a photograph of a red puncture wound and showed the area of her arm where she had been unknowingly injected.

"Things are getting so out of hand," the student said. 

"I remember nothing and if it wasn't from my friends my scenario could have been much worse."

The incident happened in Limerick but the woman involved wishes to raise awareness around the entire region.

She told The Echo that she had reported the incident to Gardaí.

"Watch out for your female friends and take them seriously if they fall victim to something like this," she said. 

Since sharing her story, three other women have messaged her to say that they had similar experiences last Saturday night.

Other social media posts containing images of women with bruising and wounds have been circulating online since nightclubs reopened, with a similar incident reported in Dublin last week.

Following an inquiry by  The Echo, the Garda Press Office confirmed that an "alleged incident" of needle spiking was being investigated in Limerick.

"An Garda Síochána are investigating a report of an alleged incident at a licensed premises in Limerick. The report does not confirm that any person was ‘spiked’ with a drug," they said.

"An Garda Síochána continue to investigate to determine the exact nature of this incident at this time."

It is believed that the HSE has been in contact with gardaí about the incidents.

The HSE reminds people that anyone can be targeted by spiking and that a spiked drink will not have an unusual taste or smell.

Symptoms of spiking can start within five minutes to an hour and last for several hours.

They can include lowered inhibitions, difficulty concentrating or speaking, loss of balance, finding it hard to move, visual problems, confusion, memory loss, nausea, vomiting, and paranoia.

"If you start to feel strange or more drunk than you should be, get help immediately," the HSE recommends.

"First, tell someone you completely trust. If you are not with anyone, call someone you trust and get to a safe place. If you need urgent help, call 999. Be wary of accepting help from a stranger and do not leave with someone you do not know.

"If you feel unwell, someone you trust should take you to your nearest emergency department. Tell the medical staff that you think your drink's been spiked. Report it to the police as soon as you can."

Gardaí will investigate any reported incident of spiking, which is classified as an assault, and are calling on anyone who falls victim to file a report.

"An Garda Síochána would advise any victims of similar incidents or any form of drug spiking to come forward and report such incidents to local Gardaí," said the Garda Press Office.

"Any incident of this type of crime will be investigated."

Details of how to report can be found on Garda.ie