'It's shocking' how many people share stories of drugged drinks, says nurse
Travis Day woke up in the drunk tank with 2 black eyes, a chipped tooth, and no idea what happened
A man who believes he was drugged while out with friends at a St. John's bar is sharing his story in the hopes of raising awareness and vigilance for others to avoid the same fate.
Travis Day was at a friend's house for their birthday Feb. 16, and had a few drinks before they got cabs to George Street.
The eight guys stopped first at Lottie's, famous for its lack of cover charge and white Russians — one of which Day said he ordered.
I wouldn't be willing to post something so publicly if I wasn't confident that it wasn't my own stupidity.- Travis Day
"I don't remember finishing the drink," Day said.
The next clear memory Day has is waking up in the drunk tank, with hours missing from his memory.
"I don't remember finishing that drink. I don't remember leaving Lottie's. I woke up with white walls around me," Day told CBC's St. John's Morning Show.
Day, a registered nurse who lives in St. John's, woke up at 7 a.m. with scratches on his arm, two black eyes and a chipped tooth, but no way to piece together what happened that night.
He had to wait in the holding cell until noon, before he was allowed to be released. In a strange way, Day said, it's good that he wound up in the drunk tank — at least he was safe, he said.
That's when he decided to post on Facebook, saying he was "fairly certain I was drugged last night downtown."
'I definitely know my limits'
Day's post from Feb. 17 has been shared more than 600 times, with mixed responses.
"I've gotten some criticism from people saying, your story, you were intoxicated, so what you're saying is coming from an intoxicated point of view. But my side of that is, you know, I'm 25 years old, I've had my experiences, I definitely know my limits," he said.
"For people to say that, that's what makes it difficult for people to come forward. Because I wouldn't be willing to post something so publicly if I wasn't confident that it wasn't my own stupidity."
The group of friends he was with told Day he just disappeared, and they assumed he went home. Day said he's hoping this incident will change the way male groups of friends keep an eye on each other, too.
"When you go downtown with a group of predominantly males, they're not as inclined to check in.… But we know that if you're down there with a girl and something's off or she just disappears all of a sudden, generally you'll send at least a text message to check in," he said.
Since making the Facebook post, Day has heard from people who saw him that night and helped him piece together at least some of what happened; one stranger saw him at the Celtic Hearth around 3 a.m.
"Apparently I stumbled in, tried to sit with this group of people that I don't know, and was not myself. Another friend … reached out to me and said, 'Hey, I saw you around that time too.… You were not yourself. I've never seen you like that,'" he said.
"I mean, it's embarrassing stuff. And that's why sometimes it's hard to come forward, but I've had a month to reflect and I feel like I'm the mouthpiece for a lot of people right now."
Not the target you'd expect
Day said he's also heard from people who have had similar experiences.
"It's shocking," he said.
"I won't go into too many details, I won't give any specifics, but middle-aged men reaching out to me saying that this has happened to them, big guys, the typical person you wouldn't expect."
You know yourself better than anyone else.- Const. James Cadigan
Day himself is six-foot-three and around 230 pounds, and acknowledges he isn't what some might consider the stereotypical target.
That's another reason why he came forward; Day said someone smaller than him would have been in even worse condition.
Day said he didn't file an official police complaint, after being told by an officer that it would be a difficult task to find a culprit.
'Bad apples spoil the bunch'
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, meanwhile, said they want to encourage people to report any kind of suspected incident of drugged drinks, because many establishments do have security cameras that can be reviewed by investigators.
Police encourage people to go downtown with a group of friends, and stick together, while making sure to keep an eye on your drinks. Any suspicious behaviour should be reported to staff or police.
As for people who suspect they have been drugged but are being told they were probably just drunk, Const. James Cadigan said it's better to be safe than left wondering.
"You know you better than anyone else, so if you feel that something was not right, you can certainly contact the RNC," Cadigan said.
Day, meanwhile, said he doesn't want to "paint a bad picture of George Street," adding it's still a good place for a fun night out with friends.
"It is bad apples that spoil the bunch."
And as for people who are being offered a drink, he said, it's still OK to accept; just follow that person to the bar.
"They shouldn't have any problem with that and then you see the drink being made, and it's in your hands."
With files from The St. John's Morning Show