02/09/2025
The nightlife scene is facing a disturbing new threat. GHB, often known as the “date r**e drug,” is making a dangerous comeback at music festivals, nightclubs, and bars. Tasteless, odourless, and alarmingly potent, this drug is being used to spike drinks and, increasingly, through needle injections. The result? Victims suddenly collapse, black out, or wake up with no memory of what happened.
Across the UK and Australia, the numbers are rising at an alarming rate.In some areas, spiking reports have more than tripled in just a few years. Emergency departments are seeing record numbers of overdoses, and what was once considered a women’s issue is now affecting men in growing numbers. Yet with research suggesting that 90% of spiking incidents go unreported, the true scale of the crisis may be far worse than anyone realises.
This isn’t just a public health issue, it’s reshaping how people experience nightlife. Music festivals and clubs, once spaces of freedom and celebration, are becoming places where many feel unsafe. Authorities are reclassifying GHB as a Class B drug, police are logging thousands of new cases, and venues are scrambling to introduce harm-reduction measures. But is it enough to stop the surge?
From prevention tips to recognising the symptoms, and from understanding how widespread the problem really is to knowing what to do if it happens to you, our full report explores the alarming rise of GHB spiking—and what must change to protect partygoers everywhere.
Read the full story www.blancofficial.com
Written by Carley Miller
