FAQ

Prague

Laboratory of Clinical and Forensic Toxicology – Bulovka University Hospital

Services: Analysis of more than 1,300 toxicologically significant substances from blood, urine, gastric contents, and saliva; specialized examinations, including hair analysis.

Contact: +420 26608 3431, +420 604 280 162
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E-mail: toxikologicka.laborator@bulovka.cz

Source: bulovka.cz

Institute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology – General University Hospital in Prague

Services: Toxicological examinations of biological material (blood, urine, gastric lavage) for clinical and forensic purposes; hair analysis for detecting drug use over a longer period.
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Contact: +420 224 961 111

Source: vfn.cz, vfn.cz, vfn.cz

Proteix Biotechnologies

Services: Determination of ethanol and methanol in blood and urine; detection and quantification of medications and drugs from biological material (blood, urine, hair); consultations in clinical and forensic toxicology.

Contact: +420 602 143 971

‍E-mail: info@proteix.cz

‍Source: proteix.cz, proteix.cz

Brno

Institute of Forensic Medicine – St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno

Services: Examination of biological material for the presence of alcohol and narcotic and psychotropic substances; forensic toxicology examinations for law enforcement authorities.

Contact: +420 543 185 817

Source: fnusa.cz, fnusa.cz

Pardubice

Toxicology Laboratory – Pardubice Hospital

Services: Preliminary drug and medication screening of urine; detection of medications, drugs, and volatile substances in urine and blood.

‍Contact: +420 466 014 111

Source: pardubice.nempk.cz, pardubice.nempk.cz, vfn.cz

Ostrava

Toxicology Department – University Hospital Ostrava

Services: Determination of blood alcohol levels; detection of medications; detection of abused drugs; determination of volatile substances; determination of pharmaceuticals in biological material.

Contact: +420 597 375 111

Source: fno.cz, fno.cz

Liberec

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology – Regional Hospital Liberec

Services: Examination of samples for clinical and forensic purposes, also available for self-payers.

‍Contact: +420 485 101 111
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Source: searchtest.seznam.cz, searchtest.seznam.cz

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about drink spiking, how to look out for signs, and protect yourself.

What is drink spiking?

Adding alcohol or drugs to someone’s drink without their knowledge or consent, with the intention of causing unconsciousness, theft, sexual assault, or other abuse. Some offenders even see it as a harmless prank, though it can have devastating consequences.

What motivates perpetrators of drink spiking?

Motivations vary — from a “joke,” to attempts at theft, up to sexual assault.

How is the Czech Republic doing in preventing drug use in connection with violence or crime in nightlife, such as the phenomenon of drink spiking?

In the Report on Illegal Drugs in the Czech Republic 2024, there is no specific mention of drink spiking. The focus is mainly on the use of illegal drugs, crimes related to their distribution, drug markets, health consequences, and prevention. Drink spiking, as a specific form of drug misuse, is not elaborated on. This type of crime is not yet being systematically monitored.

You can find the full report here: Zpráva o nelegálních drogách v ČR 2024

What advice can help potential victims reduce the risk of being spiked?

It is important to:
1. Never leave drinks unattended. Watch the process of how your drink is made (at the bar).
2. Pay attention to any changes in taste or appearance of your drink.
3. Be cautious about who you accept drinks from.
4. Go out with friends who look after one another.
5. Notice suspicious behavior. Don’t go home alone if you don’t feel safe.

How can bars and clubs help with prevention?

1. Take part in staff training led by the non-profit Beat Sexism so they are prepared to respond appropriately to cases of drink spiking and effectively monitor this phenomenon.
2. Ensure safety measures — at minimum cameras and free access to water.

What are your next steps?

1. Introduce training for bar and club staff so they can recognize symptoms and respond correctly.
2. Integrate drink spiking into school curricula as part of anti-drug prevention.
3. Improve police practices so that victims feel confident reporting incidents.
4. Provide victims with accessible support — medical, legal, psychological.
5. In the longer term, open a debate on legislative change and push for specific legal recognition of drink spiking as a crime.

Who does drink spiking affect?

In our exploratory study, the majority of victims with personal experience are women (91%), but it is certainly not just a “women’s issue.” It also affects men and queer people.

Is there legislation against drink spiking in the Czech Republic?

No. In the Czech Republic, drink spiking falls under other legal provisions (bodily harm, rape, etc.), so there is no specific legal regulation. However, we should take inspiration from the UK, where spiking is recognized as a separate criminal offense. The goal is to simplify court processes, support victims in reporting, and ensure stricter penalties for offenders.

What substances do perpetrators most often use and what do they cause?

The most common are GHB, Rohypnol, Ketamine, or Benzodiazepines. They cause disorientation, memory loss, drowsiness, and loss of consciousness. Victims often do not remember what happened and have no control over the situation.

What to do if you suspect you’ve consumed a “spiked” drink?

1. Contact a trusted person or bar staff immediately. Do not stay alone.
2. Save the remainder of the drink for later analysis or as potential evidence.
3. Stay in a safe place, in a stable position, and drink water.
4. Seek medical help as soon as possible and contact the police. Some substances disappear from the body within hours, so quick medical help is crucial. During examination, ask for toxicology tests.
5. Most importantly, don’t blame yourself. It is never your fault—the responsibility lies entirely with the perpetrator. Seek psychological support if you experience trauma (e.g., proFem, BKB, Persefona, Rosa).
6. Inform others who were at the same place and share your experience to raise awareness.

How do other countries handle it?

For example: The UK has introduced drink spiking as a separate criminal offense, special police units, mandatory staff training, and testing protocols in clubs. This shows that solutions are possible — we just need to start.

What is the ultimate goal of Beat Sexism?

The goal is a safer society and environment, with clear procedures, innovative deep-tech prevention, victim support and eventually legislative change.

First, however, we need nationwide representative data, which will serve as a solid foundation for creating effective prevention, raising awareness, and ensuring greater safety in society.

Overview of Selected Toxicology Laboratories in the Czech Republic