Police in Victoria and New South Wales have raised concerns about the insidious criminal activity of needle spiking, with recent reports affecting women in hospitality venues.
Women in Echuca and Newcastle have reported falling ill and finding tiny puncture wounds in a spate of incidents at regional venues nearly 1,000 kilometres apart.
Victorian Detective Sergeant Barry Gray of the Campaspe Crime Investigation Unit said he first heard about needle spiking on licensed premises just after New Year's Eve celebrations.
While investigations continue he would not say how many reports were received.
In NSW, Newcastle police are investigating allegations that up to six women were jabbed with ultra-fine needles at late-night venues in early December.
Police told the ABC toxicology tests found no illicit or prescription drugs in the women's systems, but further testing was underway and detectives had viewed hours of CCTV vision and interviewed witnesses.
Reports of needle spiking have also emerged in the United Kingdom in recent months.
Detective Sergeant Gray fears there could be more victims who are not aware they had been targeted.
The reports he had seen describe people only having a few drinks with friends before quickly falling ill.
"Fortunately they've been with friends who've been able to notice this is the case and get them home or off to hospital," he said.
"We've had a few victims come forward which is enough to be concerned about."
Detective Sergeant Gray said it did not seem to be an isolated incident.
"It's something that's happened in a number of different locations and on a number of different nights," he said.
Concerning reports
Detective Sergeant Gray said the people who had come forward were young females enjoying a night out with friends.
Police say, fortunately, no further reports of foul play, such as sexual abuse, had occurred.
"But certainly it's extremely dangerous.
"So far, all the people who have reported being affected in some way by this have managed to get home safely."
But he is worried it could escalate.
"You've got people who are out to have a good night and end up, basically, with no knowledge of what's going on," Detective Sergeant Gray said.
"Anything could happen to them."
What is needle spiking?
Mae Vincent, the gender-based violence service manager at DanceWize, only heard of needle spiking after the Newcastle reports of late last year.
"Spiking is anything that occurs against someone's will," she said.
"Generally you would hear terms such as drink spiking, where people will find that someone has spiked their drink either with excessive amounts of alcohol or with other drugs.
Ms Vincent said if you, or someone you know, is spiked it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible and to treat any reports in an empathetic and validating manner.
She said there were few statistics released about spiking as many incidents go unreported.
"I think any type of spiking is concerning and I wouldn't want to separate drink spiking from needle spiking," she said.
"There are ways that you can keep yourself safer when it comes to drink spiking.
More information needed
Echuca and Newcastle police are both appealing for more information about suspected needle spiking incidents.
"We're really at this point trying to appeal to anyone who thinks they may have had something happened to them," Detective Sergeant Gray said.
"We're trying to just get a better picture to see how big the problem is.
People who have any information about needle spiking are urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
