EX.620 Reflections: Inside Nightlife's Spiking Epidemic

  • Published
    Jul 28, 2022
  • Several accounts of drink and needle spiking in major nightlife capitals have pressured venues to implement harm reduction policies. Staff writer Anu Shukla and managing editor Chloe Lula discuss recent developments in Berlin.
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  • Berlin has witnessed an alarming number of drug and needle spiking incidents in recent months, raising worries about nightlife safety in one of the world's top clubbing destinations. In this edition of Reflections, a new series on the RA Exchange that breaks down important journalism on our site, staff writer Anu Shukla and managing editor Chloe Lula examine the details and context surrounding recent spiking claims. Shukla, discussing her article on the topic, describes how she spoke with two women who said they were spiked with needles at Berghain and Sisyphos. Their stories have pushed others to share their own experiences with spiking, Shukla says. Lula, who has been looking into the socio-economic and political climate behind spiking, notes how some clubbers may now feel unsafe going out alone. The pandemic has brought about a rise in anti-social behaviour and regressive attitudes towards sex, which could be a factor behind spiking, she describes. Listen to the full conversation to understand how spiking poses serious implications for women and minorities in nightlife. For resources on community care, harm reduction and mental health, revisit our list from earlier this year.
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