“I Don’t Know for Certain”: A Content Analysis of Reddit Posters’ Accounts of Drink Spiking

Violence Against Women. 2025 Jun 4:10778012251347585. doi: 10.1177/10778012251347585. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study analyzed drink spiking posts on Reddit, examining 91 threads and 14,284 comments to understand victim-survivor and bystander experiences. Our analysis produced four themes: contexts of drink spiking, harms experienced, immediate bystander actions, and long-term help-seeking. Drink spiking was often reported by women with male perpetrators, typically occurring in bars, private residences, or parties where alcohol was consumed and other drugs were likely administered without consent. Many victims described long-term mental health impacts and inadequate responses from emergency services. We recommend “alcohol and drug-facilitated sexual violence” as more inclusive terminology and highlight the need for interventions that validate victim-survivor experiences.

PMID:40462705 | DOI:10.1177/10778012251347585