Expert Calls for Free Testing and Awareness Campaigns to Combat K.-o.-Tropfen Misuse

Charlotte Förster emphasizes the need for better resources and education to address the underreported issue of drug-facilitated crimes in Germany.

Charlotte Förster, a researcher at TU Chemnitz, advocates for free, rapid testing for K.-o.-Tropfen (date-rape drugs) in Germany, similar to plans in France.
Cases of K.-o.-Tropfen misuse extend beyond public spaces like clubs and festivals to private settings, including domestic abuse scenarios.
A lack of reliable data and the stigma faced by victims contribute to a significant underreporting of these crimes, with many cases going unrecorded in official statistics.
The Berlin Senate has proposed stricter penalties for the use of K.-o.-Tropfen in sexual assaults, aiming to classify them as 'dangerous tools' under German law.
Förster calls for public education campaigns, training for bar staff, and improved support for victims to encourage reporting and prevention.