A Cork father shares his son’s alarming experience after he was spiked during a night out, highlighting a troubling trend among students.
Tom, 21, called his parents late one night. He sounded confused and lost. Just before, he had texted them he was getting a taxi home. But then, he called back, sounding totally out of it.
John described Tom as a big guy, popular and well-liked. He had just returned from a trip and wanted to catch up with friends. But after a fun night, things took a turn.
Tom remembered feeling a jolt in his drink. He thinks someone spiked it while he was holding it. His parents rushed to find him, worried sick. They found him far from where he said he’d be.
At the hospital, they learned Tom wasn’t alone. Five other students were there with similar issues. Some had been at the same bar, while others were spiked elsewhere.
John said parents were coming in from all over to pick up their kids. It was a chaotic scene. He called the spiking attempts a ‘scourge’ and urged everyone to be careful.
Tom is still recovering. He asked his dad to share their story on the radio. They want to raise awareness so others don’t go through this.
John believes drink spikers are sneaking something into drinks. They’re waiting for test results to find out what happened. He’s urging everyone to keep an eye on their drinks and stick with friends.
He ended with a heartfelt message. Parents worry about their kids’ safety, especially daughters. It’s a scary world out there, and no one should have to deal with this kind of fear.
