Drink spiking and chemical submission: what it is, how to prevent it and what to do
Updated October 2026 · Official sources (in Spanish) at the end of the guide
In short: in Spain, "chemical submission" (sumisión química) is a sexual assault, robbery, extortion or abuse committed while the victim is under the effects of a psychoactive substance. The attacker may have given it to them secretly or may take advantage of what the victim consumed voluntarily. The most commonly used substance is alcohol.
What chemical submission is
The Community of Madrid's health service defines it as sexual assault, robbery, extortion and/or abuse suffered under the influence of psychotropic substances. The substance can be given secretly, or the attacker can take advantage of its effects, because the victim becomes less able to notice danger or to resist.
On a night out people also talk about drink spiking: someone adds alcohol or another drug to a drink without the person knowing.
Types of chemical submission: proactive, opportunistic and mixed
Spanish health protocols distinguish three situations:
| Type | What happens |
|---|---|
| Proactive | The attacker secretly gives the victim one or more substances or alcohol to intoxicate them on purpose. |
| Opportunistic | The victim has drunk or taken something voluntarily and the attacker takes advantage of their state. |
| Mixed | Both at once: the victim has consumed voluntarily and the attacker also adds something without them knowing. |
The difference matters for prevention. Covering the glass makes proactive spiking harder, but it does not prevent opportunistic cases. Those need friends looking out for each other and bystanders who act.
Which substances are used
According to the Community of Madrid, alcohol is the most commonly used, although many substances can be involved:
- Alcohol and other stimulants: cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA ("ecstasy") or synthetic cathinones.
- Anaesthetics and dissociatives: GHB ("liquid ecstasy") or ketamine.
- Hypnotics and sedatives: benzodiazepines, zolpidem, zopiclone or barbiturates.
These substances are usually added to a drink, especially one that already contains alcohol.
How many cases there are in Spain
Spain's National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences (INTCF), part of the Ministry of Justice, analysed samples from 950 cases of sexual assault with suspected chemical submission in 2021. The Ministry publishes up-to-date figures by region and province on its open-data portal.
The authorities themselves acknowledge that some cases go undetected (the Ministry of Justice said so when presenting these figures): some substances leave the body within hours, and many victims don't remember what happened or take time to seek help.
What the law says
The Spanish Criminal Code imposes a heavier sentence for sexual assault when the person responsible has overridden the victim's will by giving them medication, drugs or any other natural or chemical substance suitable for that purpose (article 180.1.7).
How to prevent it on a night out
Responsibility always lies with the attacker. These tips reduce opportunities, but they don't shift the blame onto anyone. Effective campaigns speak to everyone and ask bystanders to act.
- Go out in a group and look after each other: agree how you will get home and don't leave anyone alone if they feel unwell.
- Watch your drink being poured and don't accept drinks from strangers if you didn't see them being made.
- Don't leave your drink unattended, and cover it if you do. A drink cover or a drink-cover scrunchie makes it harder for someone to slip something in unnoticed.
- Listen to your body: if you feel much worse than you should for what you have drunk (dizziness, drowsiness, confusion or memory gaps), tell someone you trust.
- If you see something, act: tell the venue staff, security or the safe-night point.
What to do if you suspect someone has been spiked (in Spain)
- Don't leave the person alone. Stay with them at all times.
- Call 112 and explain what happened. They will tell you which hospital to go to for a medical assessment and toxicology tests.
- Go to a hospital as soon as possible. Some substances are eliminated within hours. Samples such as urine will be taken there, and doctors will assess whether preventive treatment is needed.
- Report it to the authorities. The hospital and 112 will guide you on making a report.
- Get support: Spain's 016 helpline supports victims of violence against women, including sexual violence. It is free and available 24 hours a day.
What anti-spiking drink covers can (and can't) do
A drink cover is a physical barrier: it makes it harder to slip something into a glass unnoticed. That is why it helps against proactive spiking and, in a campaign, it also works as a symbol that opens the conversation about consent.
It does not protect against opportunistic cases and does not replace keeping an eye on your drink. Devices that "detect" drugs are not the answer either: an analysis by a Complutense University of Madrid researcher in The Conversation warns that they focus on substances such as GHB and overlook that alcohol is the main substance in these assaults.
We compare the different types, with guide prices, in Anti-spiking drink covers: types, prices and how to choose. If you are organising a campaign, see our material for councils and safe-night points.
Frequently asked questions about drink spiking
What is chemical submission?
It is a sexual assault, robbery, extortion or abuse committed while the victim is under the effects of a psychoactive substance, either because the attacker secretly gave it to them or because they take advantage of what the victim consumed voluntarily.
What is the most commonly used substance?
Alcohol. Cannabis, cocaine, MDMA, GHB, ketamine or sedatives such as benzodiazepines can also be involved, often mixed with alcohol.
What is the difference between proactive and opportunistic chemical submission?
In proactive cases the attacker secretly drugs the victim. In opportunistic cases the victim has drunk or taken something voluntarily and the attacker takes advantage of their state. When both happen at once it is called mixed.
What should I do if I think I have been spiked?
Ask someone you trust to stay with you, call 112 and go to a hospital as soon as possible for tests, because some substances disappear within hours. In Spain, the 016 helpline offers free support 24 hours a day.
Do drug-detecting bracelets or test strips work?
They only detect some substances and not alcohol, which is the most used. They can give a false sense of security, so they don't replace watching your drink or looking out for each other.
Does a drink cover prevent chemical submission?
It makes it harder for someone to secretly slip something into a drink, but it doesn't stop an attacker taking advantage of someone who has been drinking. It is one more measure, not a guarantee.
Sources (in Spanish)
- Comunidad de Madrid. Sumisión química (definition, types, substances and what to do).
- Instituto Nacional de Toxicología y Ciencias Forenses. Toxicological findings in sexual assaults with suspected chemical submission (2021 report).
- Ministerio de Justicia. Sexual assaults with suspected chemical submission (open data).
- RTVE. The Ministry of Justice presents the INTCF figures (2022).
- Spanish Criminal Code, article 180.1.7 (BOE).
- Servicio Andaluz de Salud. Protocol for suspected chemical submission (2022).
- Prego Meleiro, P. (Complutense University of Madrid). Sumisión química: la dudosa utilidad de los dispositivos para detectar drogas en la bebida. The Conversation, 2024.
Keep reading: Anti-spiking drink covers compared · Anti-spiking scrunchie: what it is · Material for safe-night points