Ben Fogle tried to kill himself after his drink was spiked.
Ben Fogle
In 2013, the 47-year-old broadcaster, writer and adventurer suffered a "psychotic episode" and tried to throw himself out a window after the unknown drug was slipped into his drink at a pub in the Cotswolds and Ben admitted that the incident still haunts him seven years later.
He wrote on Instagram: "Several years ago, in 2013 to be precise, my drink was spiked with an unknown substance that resulted in a psychotic episode that saw me hospitalised. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life but the response was even more disappointing. The hospital lost my samples, someone leaked it to the press, there was a full Twitter pile on from vile trolls."
Ben revealed he underwent weeks of psychological and medical testing to ensure the episode was not "self induced by illness" and he has been approached by countless others who suffered a similar fate.
He said: "The impact of drink spiking cannot be underestimated. The unknown drug caused a psychotic episode during which I tried to kill myself. I spent weeks undergoing psychological and medical testing to ensure it wasn't self induced by illness.
"Multiple doctors concluded that it was indeed an external drug that had caused the psychosis and yet there was no recrimination, just suspicion as to why and how I had been spiked. For me it's symbolic of societies general approach to spiking, that culpability and responsibly falls on the 'spikee', not the 'spiker'. I have been contacted by policemen, soldiers and students who all have the same story to tell. It can happen to anyone. Anywhere (mine was a rural pub in the Cotswolds). Anytime. It was a tough lesson. Love and peace."
Tagged in Ben Fogle