Predators are increasingly turning to drug-laced vapes and everyday over-the-counter medications to spike victims, with a growing proportion of offences taking place in private residences rather than licensed venues, the Metropolitan Police have warned.

According to detectives, offenders are using vapes containing synthetic cannabinoids such as spice or THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, alongside excessive doses of routine medicines including antihistamines and travel sickness pills to induce severe drowsiness. The force noted that these incidents are occurring more frequently at house parties, flats, and student accommodation rather than traditional nightlife settings such as bars and clubs.

Over the past year, more than 2,700 spiking-related offences were reported to the Met. Of those reports, 131 resulted in a charge, caution, or summons—a 20 per cent rise in positive outcomes compared with the previous year. Young adults continue to be the most affected group, with more than half of recorded victims aged between 18 and 35.

Detective Superintendent Dan Thompson, the Met's lead for spiking, said: "The nature of spiking is changing. We’re seeing offenders use a wider range of substances than ever before, including everyday medications and substances added to vapes, while increasingly targeting victims in private settings such as homes, parties and student accommodation."

DS Thompson highlighted that many of the substances now deployed leave a very narrow forensic window because they metabolise rapidly, and commercial self-testing kits sold online often fail to detect over-the-counter or prescription drugs. "Reporting within the first 12 hours allows us to secure CCTV, obtain forensic evidence, identify witnesses and make arrests," he said, while urging victims to come forward regardless of how much time has elapsed.

The warning follows recent life sentences handed down to two prolific offenders who targeted victims in residential properties. Chao Xu, 34, received a life sentence after offering flat guests a concoction he termed "the spring of life", which he laced with GHB and the travel sickness drug scopolamine, leading to convictions for 24 sexual offences including rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, upskirting, and voyeurism. In a separate case, 29-year-old PhD student Zhenhao Zou was jailed for life for drugging and raping 10 women across London and China, keeping a trophy box of his victims' possessions.

Awareness campaigns are currently running across university campuses during Freshers' Week. Colin Mackie, chair and co-founder of the charity Spike Aware UK, noted that new students in unfamiliar environments are particularly vulnerable, warning that symptoms such as sudden dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, or hallucinations can easily be mistaken for alcohol intoxication.

What we still do not know is the true extent of unrecorded spiking across the capital, given the rapid breakdown of these substances in the body and victims' frequent hesitation to report. I'll be tracking how the Met's response develops as term gets underway.