PanicStation.org
UK USA
us Personal safety & immediate danger

What to do if…
you suspect your drink or food has been tampered with or spiked

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Stop consuming it, move to a staffed or safer place with someone you trust, and ask venue staff for help. If you feel very unwell, unsafe, unusually intoxicated, or hard to wake, call 911; if poisoning or drugging is a concern and it is not clearly a 911 emergency, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.

Do not do these things

  • Do not keep drinking or eating it to be polite.
  • Do not taste it again to check.
  • Do not ask someone else to try it.
  • Do not leave alone with someone you do not fully trust, especially if you feel dizzy, confused, very sleepy, sick, or unusually intoxicated.
  • Do not confront a suspected person by yourself.
  • Do not drive if you feel impaired, sleepy, confused, faint, or sick.

What to do now

  1. Stop and move: Put the drink or food down. Move to a staffed, well-lit place such as the bar counter, host stand, front desk, or security area.
  2. Stay with a trusted person: Tell a friend, staff member, or another safe person: “My drink or food was left unattended and I do not feel safe. Please stay with me.”
  3. Ask staff for practical help: Ask for a manager, security, or welfare staff. Ask them to help you stay in a visible area, arrange safe transport, or call 911 if you feel unsafe or unwell.
  4. Do not keep the same item for eating or drinking: If you want another drink, ask for a new one opened or poured in front of you, or a sealed container you open yourself. If it is food, ask for a new dish or stop eating for now.
  5. Act early if your body feels wrong: Call 911 now, or have someone call, if you have trouble breathing, pass out, have a seizure, cannot stay awake, feel in immediate danger, or feel severely confused or unusually intoxicated. If you suspect poisoning or drugging but it is not clearly a 911 emergency, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
  6. Avoid investigating: Do not confront anyone or try to prove what happened. If it is safe, write down the time, place, what you consumed, who you were with, and any symptoms. You can ask staff whether they can set the item aside and preserve any relevant video.
  7. If this involves packaged food from a store: If you are still at the store, report it to the store manager. If you are already home and suspect deliberate tampering of a commercial food product, you can contact local police and use the FDA food-tampering reporting routes when you are safe enough.
  8. If sexual assault may be involved: Prioritize getting to safety and getting medical care. You do not have to decide about reporting now. You can contact RAINN or go to an emergency department when you are safe enough.
  9. Get home safely: Leave with someone you trust. If you are not okay to travel alone, ask the venue to help arrange safe transportation. Do not drive if you feel impaired or unwell.

What can wait

  • Deciding whether to make a police report.
  • Working out exactly what happened.
  • Deciding who may have been involved.
  • Posting about it or messaging people connected to the situation.
  • Making a formal complaint to the venue or store.
  • Replacing the whole evening’s plans.

Important reassurance

You do not need proof to take safety steps. Stopping, getting help, and leaving with support is a reasonable response when a drink or food no longer feels safe.

Scope note

These are first steps for the next minutes and hours only. Later decisions about medical care, reporting, complaints, or legal options may need specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not medical, legal, security, or other professional advice. If you are in immediate danger or severely unwell, call 911. If you suspect poisoning or drugging and it is not clearly a 911 emergency, Poison Help can advise what to do next.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

Support us