Spiking fears linked to surge in numbers seeking sexual assault treatment in Cork City 

The number of people reporting to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit that they may have been drugged almost doubled this year

Spiking is when someone puts mind-altering substances such as valium or Rohypnol into a drink without the person's knowledge. Stock picture

There has been a big surge in the number of people attending Cork City’s Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU), with one factor thought to be people’s fears they have been a victim of a spiking.

Margo Noonan, the head of the Cork City unit, said it would typically have seen approximately 45 people by this stage of the year, but instead that figure is already at 85.