London: The Metropolitan Police has warned that spiking cases are increasingly involving prescription and over-the-counter medicines, as well as drug-laced vapes.
Officers have identified vapes containing THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, and spice. Some spiking cases have also involved high doses of everyday medicines, including antihistamines and travel sickness tablets.
The Met stated that there has been an increase in spiking cases at private parties, rather than only at bars and clubs. “The nature of spiking is changing,” Detective Superintendent Dan Thompson, the Met’s spiking lead, noted.
Thompson added that offenders were using a wider range of substances, including everyday medicines and substances added to vapes, while increasingly targeting victims in homes, at parties and in student accommodation.
Police warned that some substances used in spiking can leave a narrow forensic window, making early reporting important. The Met noted that reporting an incident within the first 12 hours can help officers secure CCTV footage, obtain forensic evidence, identify witnesses and make arrests.
More than 2,700 spiking-related offences were reported to the Met in the past year. Of these, 131 resulted in a charge, caution or summons. Reported offences increased by 20 percent compared with the previous year, while more than half of the victims were aged between 18 and 35.
The Met also highlighted that the self-testing kits sold online may not detect many prescription or over-the-counter medicines used in spiking cases. Awareness events are being held at universities across London during Freshers Week.
Police also cited two separate cases involving convicted sex offenders who drugged women before sexually assaulting them. Chao Xu, 34, was sentenced to life imprisonment in November 2025 after being convicted of 24 sexual offences, including rape, committed over three years.
Police added that Xu used substances including GHB and scopolamine, a travel sickness medication, to drug guests at his flat.
Chinese PhD student Zhenhao Zou, 29, was also sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of drugging and raping 10 women in London and China.
ALSO READ | Apple Music Hall to open new 600-capacity venue in London
