How To Detect A Spiked Drink and The Risks of Date Rape Drug Use, Experts Reveal

In a recent case that has unfolded in London, UK, Indian-origin restaurateur Vikas Nath has been accused of spiking a woman’s drink with Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL), popularly known as a date rape drug. Nath, 63, was caught red-handed spiking a woman’s cocktail margarita at Annabel’s, a private members' club in Mayfair, where both were members. The case has become highly sensitive because date rape drugs are known to be used for making victims drowsy, unconscious, and incapable of resisting sexual assault.

With the case making headlines in global media, it has drawn urgent attention to the dangers of drink spiking and how harmful these drugs truly are. To understand the risks of GBL and how one can detect a spiked drink, the editorial team of Onlymyhealth reached out to Dr Ajeet Singh, Senior Consultant & HOD of Critical Care Medicine at Aakash Healthcare, and Ms Veena V, Chief Clinical Dietitian & HOD of the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics at Aster Whitefield Hospital. Continue reading to know more about the case and what doctors shared with us.

What is the Vikas Nath Date Rape Drug Case?

The Indian-origin millionaire, who owns a Michelin-star restaurant in London, has admitted in court to spiking a woman’s drink at an affluent Mayfair club. According to a leading news agency, Nath was caught by the club’s staff on January 15, 2024, while transferring a liquid from a small bottle into the woman's drink through a straw while she was away from the table, with her other friends.

While Nath admitted to adding the drug into her drink in front of the jury, he claimed he intended to "help the woman relax rather than to have sex with her". Fortunately, before the lady could consume the drink, the staff intervened, changed her glass, and called the police. In an attempt to hide the evidence, Nath discarded the bottle of GBL in a washroom, but it was later recovered as proof.

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What is GBL: Date Rape Drug

Gamma-butyrolactone, or GBL, is a colourless liquid which is used lawfully in industries but abused as a psychoactive drug. Speaking about the drug, Ms Veena V explains that GBL functions as a chemical solvent which people sometimes misuse to produce psychoactive effects. “The human body transforms GBL into GHB, which acts as a central nervous system depressant after the substance enters the system.”

The non-consensual use of GBL remains illegal and presents dangerous consequences, as related compounds have restricted medical and industrial applications which require strict control.

Risks of Using GBL 

GBL is considered one of the most harmful and heavy drugs as it is very suppressive to the brain and respiratory system. Even in low doses, it can lead to confusion, lack of coordination, vomiting, slowing of breathing, seizures, coma, and death, particularly when taken together with alcohol.

Explaining why it is referred to as a date rape drug, Dr Singh shares, “Since it can be introduced into beverages without being noticed, it takes a short time to render one disoriented, weak in the muscles, and forgetful. Victims can fail to resist and may not recall what happened. Its fast-acting, incapacitating, and amnesia-causing characteristics make it one of the most used drugs in drug-facilitated sexual assault.”

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Why It Is Difficult to Detect GBL

During the conversation, Ms Veena V shared that it is extremely difficult to detect if your drink has been spiked with GBL. Highlighting what makes it difficult, Ms Veena V and Dr Singh noted:

• It is colourless and almost odourless, and it does not alter the taste of beverages as it is easily soluble.
• The effects of the substance start within minutes, but most people do not recognise their condition until later.
• The body processes the substance at a rapid pace, which causes it to become undetectable in blood or urine within a brief period.
• Early symptoms can also resemble common issues like fatigue, anxiety, dehydration, or low blood sugar, which leads people to confuse them with other disorders.

Tips to Detect a Spiked Drink

While both experts emphasise that it is nearly impossible to detect if someone has mixed GBL into their drink, there are a few signs one can pay attention to. While some might not apply specifically to GBL, they can help detect if another drug substance has been mixed:

1. A spiked beverage can exhibit odd characteristics, such as being hazy, having an excess of bubbles, or containing a visible deposit.
2. The drink can have a minute change from its original taste, especially a strange, bitter or chemical flavour.

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However, Ms Veena V highlights that physical manifestations tend to speak more:

1. Sudden Memory Loss, experiencing gaps in your timeline.
2. If the body loses control or shows signs of sickness after consuming just a few sips.
3. If you experience blurred vision, nausea, or sudden confusion.

Bottomline

In case of feeling any doubt over the company you are drinking with, or if you sense any interference with your drink, you should immediately stop consuming the beverage and seek medical assistance. As GBL starts affecting the body within minutes, it leaves very little time to respond or understand the situation, making its use more prone to sexual assault attempts. However, being aware and attentive may help prevent a dangerous situation.