Changes underway in state, local response to spiked drink reports

BOSTON — Concerns over spiked drinks haven’t subsided in Massachusetts, and there are changes underway in how local and state leaders are responding to a perceived uptick in cases.

For the last six months, Boston 25 News has been reporting about the challenges in proving drugged drink allegations.

Bristol and Norfolk State Senator Paul Feeney filed a bill this year that would require Massachusetts hospitals to test for date rape drugs if a person believes they’ve been drugged.

He told Boston 25 News he’s been hearing firsthand from new people every week about their experiences.

“This is a public safety crisis,” said Sen. Feeney. “This is a problem affecting every community across the Commonwealth.”

Senator Feeney has been meeting with survivors, local and state law enforcement, venue owners, and security.

He’s suggesting some immediate changes as he waits for traction on his bill.

“Can we go and do a bulk purchase of testing kits so people can have them in their hands when they go to the venue?,” he questioned.

Senator Feeney said the prospect of using state money to purchase drink spiking testing strips is being discussed.

“Now you can involve law enforcement right then and there where that drink was spiked. We think that’s a valuable part of this,” explained Sen. Feeney.

Boston 25 News has also learned that the Boston Police Department has implemented a change in its internal reporting system to include a marking option for contaminated drinks.

“The institution of this new internal system, where you’re able to mark contaminated drink, I think is a step toward better identifying where this is happening and the frequency,” said District 1 Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta.

For Coletta, the urgency in these efforts is personal.

She believes someone put a pill in her drink back she when was a freshman in college over a decade ago.

“I was hugging my friend at the time. My plastic cup was empty, and I felt what seemed like a quarter being dropped in my cup as my arms were around this person,” she recalled. “I looked in my cup and saw a little pill and I looked around frantically trying to find the individual who did this.”

Coletta has been working with Boston Police to integrate better training documents for police officers who respond to spiked drink reports.

“The Boston Police Department has also committed to assigning a detective to a case even where instances of a sexual assault is not believed to have occurred,” said Coletta.

The city has also committed to helping venues with technical assistance to better watch out for people committing these crimes.

That includes funding for surveillance systems at establishments that don’t have cameras.

“The licensing board has also indicated they’re open to establishing a policy that would ensure non-punishment for establishments that come forward with an incident of drink contamination,” added Coletta.

For Northeastern student Brinly Meelia, all of it would make a big difference.

She believes she was drugged at another school’s off-campus party last year but couldn’t get testing done at Mass General Hospital to prove it.

“They told me they couldn’t test me because I wasn’t raped or sexually assaulted,” said Meelia.

The Northeastern Health Center was willing to test her which she says came back positive for Rohypnol.

A letter she’s since received from Mass General Hospital says they’ve “changed the practice for testing and all patients will now be tested if they have any concern about the ingestion of Rohypnol”.

It says the testing will be sent to an outside lab.

“Even small steps are big steps,” she said. “Even if this bill isn’t able to pass, I’m hopeful that bars and institutions, including colleges, can look at ways to keep people safe.”

Boston 25 News has learned Brigham and Women’s Hospital has also changed their testing practice.

All of the other major hospitals Boston 25 News checked in with in the Boston area still are not routinely testing for some of the drugs most commonly used in date rape cases.

Senator Feeney has asked for an expedited hearing on his bill that could change that.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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