Drugs
Spiking
Risk flagAdding drugs (usually alcohol, GHB, or other substances) to someone's drink or food without their knowledge. Teens may use this term when discussing party safety or as a warning. Parents should know this because it signals a potential real-world danger.
How kids use it
Discussed in safety conversations, group chats about parties, or on platforms like TikTok in safety-awareness videos.
Is “Spiking” something to worry about?
Context matters, but "Spiking" is drug-adjacent vocabulary. Kids repeat slang they hear in music and memes all the time — one mention proves nothing. A pattern of it alongside cash requests, new privacy habits, or paraphernalia is worth acting on.
- Ask what it means like you’re curious, not prosecuting — you’ll learn more from the reaction than the answer.
- Know what the physical items look like (tins, cartridges, pens) — they’re designed to be missable.
- Check the apps where buying happens — disappearing-message apps are the common lane check their apps →