Raising drug awareness
Concerned about drugged drinks downtown, former MSU students spread the word
by Nicole Smith
Issue date: 11/19/09
Section: Campus News
After hearing too many horror stories from colleagues and friends who believe their drinks were drugged downtown recently, Trinity Sol decided to take action.
On Friday night, Sol and a group of former MSU students will be stationed outside various Mankato bars in the downtown area to educate people about drug-facilitated crime.
Sol said the volunteer group will hand out educational brochures and will engage individuals about how to recognize and prevent drug facilitated sexual assault.
The group will also focus on physical assault and robbery and will target their awareness toward both men and women.
"We are volunteering to do this because we are concerned first and foremost for the well-being of students," said Sol.
Sol said several of her friends spoke of questionable situations where they felt like they weren't acting right after only a few drinks.
A married couple got really sick after only two drinks, one of her friends blacked out with loss of motor function after consuming alcohol within her limits.
"It was Halloween night and she said her experience was horrendious," Sol said. "She lost her bladder control and everything … her friends were going to go to the emergency room but they didn't know what to do so they took her home," she said. "I heard more stories from that night downtown, and that was the straw that broke the camel's back for me."
According to the Sexual Violence Education Program at the MSU Women's Center, there are many effects that vary based on the drug used, but victims who have been drugged could experience a variety of symptoms ranging from loss of motor functions, slurred speech, distorted sight and sound, excessive sweating, nausea and vomiting.
The most commonly used drugs come in pill and liquid form and are often odorless, tasteless and have no color. Embalming fluid, Ketamine, Rophynol, Ecstasy and alcohol are frequently used as drugs to facilitate assault.
"We know that alcohol is the number-one used drug to facilitate sexual assault," said Lauren Pilnick, sexual violence education coordinator at MSU. "When drugs, including alcohol, are used to facilitate a crime, it is usually sexual assault."
It is difficult to test and prosecute for this crime, because some of the primary evidence - the presence of the drug in someone's system and the cup that was drugged with remaining liquid - is relatively hard to hold onto. Most law enforcements and crime services facilities recommend getting tested for the drugs as early as possible, preferably within 72 hours.
The Mankato Police Department said there are no confirmed cases of drug-facilitated assault in Mankato, but Sol believes this is still a concern for the community.
"It's obviously going on, it just might not be reported," Sol said. "There are so many stories and a lot of suspicion that this is a real problem in Mankato."
A Minnesota State graduate of the women's studies program, Sol said she will advocate alongside other MSU alums.
"We are concerned community members," she said. "Most of us are from the women's studies department and I think this speaks a lot to the program because we're all graduated and gone on, but were still investing time into this."
Pilnick said the efforts of this group fall under the category of risk reduction.
"While using risk reduction techniques are smart and I recommend them, we ultimately do not have the control over whether or not we are going to be drugged or assaulted - only the potential perpetrator has that power," Pilnick said.
Sol said this type of crime is pre-meditated and very intentional. Although she doesn't know what feedback they will have until Friday night arrives, Sol remains hopeful for positive student responses.
"I'm feeling optimistic," she said. "I think students will be responsive to it and even if it is just for the night, I hope we can plan some seeds so people will be more aware."
The brochure to be handed out provides information about what people should do if they believe they were drugged, in addition to free and confidential resources in the area such as the Women's Center, the primary on-campus resource for victims of sexual assault and related crimes.
Nicole Smith is the Reporter editor in chief
On Friday night, Sol and a group of former MSU students will be stationed outside various Mankato bars in the downtown area to educate people about drug-facilitated crime.
Sol said the volunteer group will hand out educational brochures and will engage individuals about how to recognize and prevent drug facilitated sexual assault.
The group will also focus on physical assault and robbery and will target their awareness toward both men and women.
"We are volunteering to do this because we are concerned first and foremost for the well-being of students," said Sol.
Sol said several of her friends spoke of questionable situations where they felt like they weren't acting right after only a few drinks.
A married couple got really sick after only two drinks, one of her friends blacked out with loss of motor function after consuming alcohol within her limits.
"It was Halloween night and she said her experience was horrendious," Sol said. "She lost her bladder control and everything … her friends were going to go to the emergency room but they didn't know what to do so they took her home," she said. "I heard more stories from that night downtown, and that was the straw that broke the camel's back for me."
According to the Sexual Violence Education Program at the MSU Women's Center, there are many effects that vary based on the drug used, but victims who have been drugged could experience a variety of symptoms ranging from loss of motor functions, slurred speech, distorted sight and sound, excessive sweating, nausea and vomiting.
The most commonly used drugs come in pill and liquid form and are often odorless, tasteless and have no color. Embalming fluid, Ketamine, Rophynol, Ecstasy and alcohol are frequently used as drugs to facilitate assault.
"We know that alcohol is the number-one used drug to facilitate sexual assault," said Lauren Pilnick, sexual violence education coordinator at MSU. "When drugs, including alcohol, are used to facilitate a crime, it is usually sexual assault."
It is difficult to test and prosecute for this crime, because some of the primary evidence - the presence of the drug in someone's system and the cup that was drugged with remaining liquid - is relatively hard to hold onto. Most law enforcements and crime services facilities recommend getting tested for the drugs as early as possible, preferably within 72 hours.
The Mankato Police Department said there are no confirmed cases of drug-facilitated assault in Mankato, but Sol believes this is still a concern for the community.
"It's obviously going on, it just might not be reported," Sol said. "There are so many stories and a lot of suspicion that this is a real problem in Mankato."
A Minnesota State graduate of the women's studies program, Sol said she will advocate alongside other MSU alums.
"We are concerned community members," she said. "Most of us are from the women's studies department and I think this speaks a lot to the program because we're all graduated and gone on, but were still investing time into this."
Pilnick said the efforts of this group fall under the category of risk reduction.
"While using risk reduction techniques are smart and I recommend them, we ultimately do not have the control over whether or not we are going to be drugged or assaulted - only the potential perpetrator has that power," Pilnick said.
Sol said this type of crime is pre-meditated and very intentional. Although she doesn't know what feedback they will have until Friday night arrives, Sol remains hopeful for positive student responses.
"I'm feeling optimistic," she said. "I think students will be responsive to it and even if it is just for the night, I hope we can plan some seeds so people will be more aware."
The brochure to be handed out provides information about what people should do if they believe they were drugged, in addition to free and confidential resources in the area such as the Women's Center, the primary on-campus resource for victims of sexual assault and related crimes.
Nicole Smith is the Reporter editor in chief
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