Toxicological Analysis of Drink or Eatable Spiking in Train Travellers – an Experience from Southern India

Spiking through drinks and/or eatables is known for robbery, but the components/drugs used for the same in Indian scenario were not reported earlier.

To find out the pattern of drugs used to spike the drinks or eatables of train travelers and to provide guidelines for clinicians working in emergency departments (ED).

Biological samples (Gastric, Lavage, Blood and Urine) obtained from train travelers who were spiked, and the remnants of drinks or eatables brought by them were analyzed by appropriate methods. Victims with alleged drug facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) were not included. The data were analyzed by simple descriptive statistics.

There were 56 (Male 49) victims, with a mean and median age of 36 and 29 (Range 19 – 52) years respectively. Ethanol was detected in 26. One or other prescribed drugs such as barbiturates, benzodiazepines, diphenhydramine, opiates, promethazine, and tricyclic antidepressants were identified in one of the biological sample of 44 individuals in addition to ketamine in 8 and zolpidem in 2 of them. 11 samples were positive for multiple drugs. Drugs were also identified in the remnants of drinks and eatables. Samples were negative for amphetamines, cannabinoid, cocaine, gamma hydroxy butyric acid and flunitrezepam.

This study has brought out the misuse of therapeutic drugs in robbery and suggests the need to screen the biological samples for a range of drugs. It is worth to screen for ketamine and zolpidem. The spectrum of drugs observed is different from those published earlier. Hence physicians and practitioners working in emergency department should remember spiking with drinks and eatables, and initiate toxicological analysis of biological samples at the earliest and provide appropriate therapeutic measures.