Concerned mother Cara Stephenson is warning youngsters of the dangers of drink spiking - after her son had to be resuscitated when his drink was tampered with in Oswestry.
Teenager Ben Purslow was one of two people who collapsed after a night out and had to be taken to hospital.
Police first feared they had taken ecstasy but it was later found the illness was caused by drink spiking.
Ben has recovered, but, as summer approaches and young people take to sitting outside with drinks, his mother is appealing to everyone to be aware of the dangers that nearly killed her son.
She said tests showed her son had been affected by GHB.
“Ben was so ill,” she said: “He said afterwards he felt tired, yet was wide awake. Then he became incoherent and collapsed. Thank goodness his cousin was with him, as he rang for an ambulance.
“It was so frightening, I would hate other young people and other parents to go through this. I would just say to young people, be aware there is someone in Oswestry spiking drinks and they should take steps to ensure it doesn’t happen to them.
“Keep your thumb over the bottle, never leave your drink unattended.”
A police spokesman said: “People should be extremely wary if they are offered any suspicious substance. They should always keep drinks close to hand to guard against any risk of them being spiked.”
* Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) - is an odourless, colourless liquid that in small doses causes a reduction of social inhibitions. Higher doses lead to feelings of sedation but when taken with alcohol it can lead to respiratory collapse or coma.
3 Comments
What complete and utter nonsense!
When will people start to understand that the epidemic of teenagers drinks being spiked is an urban myth. Drink spiking does happen very rarely but IT IS VERY RARELY!
If I was 17 and I drank so much that I had to be resuscitated I would claim my drink had been spiked too!
The Shropshire Star deserves no credit for continuing this sensationalist myth!
Report abuse
I would disgaree with Pancakes. I have had my drink spiked in the past and let me tell you, its not a pleasant feeling!
Teenagers regularly spike their ‘mates’ drinks when out celebrating birthdays, stag nights etc and its completley irresponsible as the damage caused can be quite extreme.
I applaud this woman for standing up and making it clear and highlighting the dangers - so what if its a rare occasion - the fact that it happens at all should make one realise that higlighting the problem is a good thing and a ’sensationalist myth’
Report abuse
This lady and her son have obviously gone through a terrifying experience. She is advising people to keep their thumb over the top of the bottle, but if her son or any other person used a Spikey that fits into the top of all crown top bottles and a straw is passed through the hole in the middle, they would not need to keep their thumb over the top. The Spikey’s come in four bright colours that glow under UV light and help to keepthe drink safe. Please visit the website http://www.spikey.eu and you will see how Spikey can work for you. Please contact us for more details 01403 752899. Spikey should be stocked by every club and bar in the UK especially as people will be tqaking their drinks outside once the no-smoking rule comes in on the 1st July.
Report abuse