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Knockout drops, or more accurately knockout drugs, refer to a variety of substances. Knockout drugs are increasingly being secretly added to drinks or food in order to render someone unconscious, helpless, or incapable of acting. They take effect quickly after ingestion, leaving the body numb and defenseless. Memory lapses are the norm. Click here for the emergency plan as a PDF.

All substances have a sedative, depressant effect in common. Not only liquid substances are abused as knockout agents, but also tablets, for example. The list of knockout agents is not finite; new substances are constantly being added. This makes the analysis of knockout drugs very extensive and also challenging.

A common active ingredient is gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) or gamma-butyrolactone (GBL – precursor of GHB) – also known as “liquid ecstasy,” “liquid E,” or “liquid X.” Other active ingredients include ketamine or prescription sedatives and psychotropic drugs from the benzodiazepine group. In small doses, these substances can have a relaxing and disinhibiting effect. However, even small amounts can cause dizziness, nausea, and loss of consciousness. The substance also suppresses memory. Knockout drugs cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, meaning that there is little chance of noticing the substance that has been secretly added to a drink or food.

The knockout drugs are deliberately added by perpetrators to open drinks, and sometimes to food. Boys and men can also be affected by knockout drugs. This happens in clubs, pubs, festivals, at parties, at home... However, it is not only strangers who are perpetrators; casual acquaintances or friends you are out with or meet at a private party can also become perpetrators.

Since 2002, GHB has been subject to the Narcotics Act (Betäubungsmittelgesetz). This means that possession, purchase, trade, distribution or administration of GHB is a criminal offence. Prescription psychotropic drugs such as benzodiazepines are also subject to the Narcotics Act in Germany. In addition, the New Psychoactive Substances Act (NpSG) increasingly covers substances such as GBL and BDO (1,4-butanediol) when they are misused as knockout drugs or intoxicants. Unauthorised manufacture, trade, distribution or possession can be punished with fines or even several years' imprisonment, depending on the offence and quantity involved.

The administration of knockout drugs is dangerous bodily harm (Section 224 ff. StGB), in the worst case resulting in death. Sexual assaults involving the administration of knockout drugs are punishable as abuse of persons incapable of resistance (Section 177 StGB).

How Can You Protect Yourself?

There is no such thing as 100% protection but you can take the following precautions:

• Don’t leave your glass unattended, if in doubt order a fresh drink.
• Arrange with friends to watch each other’s drinks.
• Only drink from glasses you have followed all the way from the bar.
• When you go out with friends make sure to also go home together.
• If you notice a friend has suddenly started behaving out of character becoming totally exhilarated, random and extremely flirtatious, keep your eye on them and don’t leave them alone.
• Be aware that perpetrators can be both strangers and friends.
• Don’t hesitate to leave the club or party if you don’t feel safe there.
• Turn to your friends or the staff if you suddenly feel sick, dizzy or faint at a club, pub or a private party.

 ... and in an emergency

• ... you must act quickly now, get help! Dial the emergency number 112. An emergency doctor must help the person concerned – their life is in danger!
• ... check the person's breathing and pulse, place them in the recovery position if necessary.
• ... in the event of violence, call the police on 110
• ... emergency numbers always work, even if you have no credit left on your mobile phone.
• ... if you are the person affected, have bruises or wounds and cannot remember anything, confide in someone immediately! No matter how late it is, call a friend, your family or another trusted person for support.
• ... Take a urine sample immediately (in a sealable container, e.g. a jam jar) and put it in the freezer.
• ... if you think you have been abused or raped, get yourself checked out as soon as possible at a hospital, emergency room or by a doctor you trust; most knockout drugs are only detectable in blood and urine for up to 12 hours.

How do knockout drops work?

Knockout drugs initially cause feelings of well-being and relaxation. When mixed with alcohol, for example, the effects of knockout drugs are unpredictable. The effects set in approximately 10 to 20 minutes after administration and can last for up to several hours. Those affected often feel euphoric and well at first. It is often assumed that this is the effect of alcohol. Since knockout drugs also have a disinhibiting effect, atypical behaviour may occur, e.g. intense flirting. The victim may suddenly ‘wind up’, and friends sometimes notice a sudden change in mood in the victim. This is followed by nausea, dizziness and sudden fatigue. Other side effects include headaches, vomiting, shortness of breath, movement disorders, cramps and paralysis, and/or confusion. As a rule, those affected are unconscious for several hours, ranging from dazed to severely comatose, and cannot remember anything. Even before losing consciousness, the effect of the knockout drugs renders the person affected helpless and very easy to manipulate. Nevertheless, they can still talk and move normally for a short time, and friends or other outsiders do not notice what is happening.

What can you do if you have a concrete suspicion?

There are many different substances that can be misused as knockout drugs. These substances can usually only be detected for up to 12 hours after administration. So if you suspect that you or a friend has been given a knockout drug, it is important to act quickly.

Evidence can be provided by a blood or urine sample. Urine is much better suited for sampling here, as it is detectable for longer than in blood. If you are affected, take a urine sample immediately (in a sealable container, e.g. a jam jar) and place it in the refrigerator, if possible in the freezer compartment. This is important because the main problem for those affected is the time delay between the incident and the sample being taken. The urine sample can be stored in the refrigerator, or better still in the freezer, for 1 to 3 days. This gives you 1-3 days to have the urine tested. Another option is hair analysis. A hair sample can be tested for substances for approximately four to six weeks (depending on hair length). But beware, as the concentration in hair is very low, the probability of the substance being detected is very low. The costs of hair analysis are also high.

Go to the hospital immediately and/or contact the police. A thorough medical examination and assessment, as well as securing evidence, form the basis for uncovering such cases. In addition to urine, other evidence may also be collected, e.g. tablets, bottles, glasses. If possible, these can also be used as evidence.

Are you still unsure whether you want to report it? Confidential evidence collection may be an option here. Confidential evidence collection is usually available in all cities, mostly attached to women's clinics, and helps to secure all evidence of sexual violence for possible later reporting. You don't need to be afraid; you decide how comprehensive you want the examination to be. The anonymisation of the evidence gives you enough time to decide whether you want to report the crime. At the same time, get support and guidance to help you process what you have experienced. Counselling centres can help you with this, e.g.:

The Violence Against Women Helpline is available 365 days a year on 116 016.

In addition to online counselling, Weisser Ring also offers a victim helpline daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on 116 006.

Sexualised violence under the influence of knockout drops can also happen to boys* and men*. Initial counselling and help is available from the Violence Against Men Helpline on 0800 1239900.