General Infos
Special Topics
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Tips for witnesses and helpers
Watch out for people who …
are in the local pub or club and suddenly appear extremely dazed or drunk.
- are visibly being “towed along” by one or two people who don’t know the dazed person, or whom they only got to know there and then.
- are being guided by unknown people who want to “take care” of the dazed person at all costs.
Don’t look away! Not every person in a helpless state has simply drunk too much. - Talk to the dazed person. Ask him for his name and if you should call him a taxi. Talk to the person or people with him and ask for their names. Note their faces and any distinguishing features, e.g. clothing.
- If you notice that someone has been given knockout drops, you should call the emergency medical services (112) immediately. It is possible the victim could die.
- If you notice something suspicious, go to staff or call the police (110) yourself.
- Always report leads to MANEO: +49 – 30 -216 33 36
Case studies - A 42-year-old gay man reported to MANEO that he had noticed that a total of EUR 950 had been withdrawn from his bank account, withdrawals he couldn’t explain. He said he had been in a bar the previous evening and woken up the next morning on a park bench nearby. He said he had probably drunk too much, which is why he couldn’t remember anything. It had been a warm evening, he said, so he didn’t think it too bad that he had slept on a park bench, but he found it strange nonetheless. He said it was possible some cash had disappeared from his wallet but that his bank cards were still there. He now suspects someone drugged him before raiding his bank account, but he can’t prove it.
- A 53-year-old employee met a 22-year-old on an Internet chat site and invited him to his flat for sex. While there, the young perpetrator secretly mixed a substance into his drink. The victim, who lost consciousness soon afterwards, didn’t wake up until lunchtime the following day. The 22-year-old had stolen valuables from his flat including a laptop, a camera, a mobile phone and cash. The man now blames himself for being too careless. You can find out more about knockout drops on the following website: www.maneo.de
- A 23-year-old language student from England met a 35-year-old man in Berlin. They spent a few nights together in bars and became friends. After the next night out, they went back to the 35-year-old’s flat nearby for another drink. This is as much as the victim remembers. When he woke up, he found himself lying naked on his back on the sofa, and he realised the man had had sex with him without his being able to remember it. He said he was now in a state of desperation and feared he may have been infected with HIV.
Knockout drops
Knockout drops are substances – solutions or powders – that are secretly mixed into the victim’s drink or, more rarely, food. Most perpetrators use knockout drops in order to commit robbery or sexual offences against dazed or unconscious victims.
The substances are often odourless and neutral in taste, or may taste slightly soap or salty. “Knockout drops” is a collective term for GHB/GBL (“Liquid Ecstasy”), ketamine, sleeping pills such as zopiclone or other drugs that induce sleep or render someone helpless. Alcohol may also be used in conjunction with the drops.
Symptoms and effects
Knockout drops have different effects depending on the substances used, the physical constitution of the victim and if there has been any prior consumption of medications or alcohol: - Those affected are overcome by immediate and unexpected fatigue. The victims fall asleep and only awake hours later. They often feel faint, drowsy or ill.
- Others remain awake for a while after swallowing the drops. They feel as if they have been “wrapped in cotton wool”, dazed or without any personal will. They generally have no recollection of this state of being awake later (a “mental blackout”). To the people around them, they appear drunk or apathetic. Subsequent adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, heart complaints or muscle weakness.
- Attention! Depending on the substance, dosage and physical constitution of the victim, knockout drops can cause serious harm to a person’s health. They can lead to epileptic attacks, coma and respiratory depression. There is an acute danger to life and an ambulance should be called immediately
Knockout drops are treacherous
Victims given knockout drops after consuming alcohol or other drugs, e.g. medications, often attribute the symptoms they experienced – particularly blackouts – to these other circumstances. They often blame themselves unfairly if they wake up and discover that valuables have gone missing.
Most people only realise later that a targeted robbery, sexual assault or rape has taken place. Many victims fail to report the incident out of fear or shame. Massive memory gaps often make it impossible to compile an exact chronology of events. There are several cases in which the use of knockout drops has caused death
Blackout – what now?
Victims frequently feel groggy, faint, nauseous or sick after coming to. They don’t feel themselves, they often can’t go to work the next day and need to stay in bed. It is common to react to the fact they have been victims of a violent crime with initial disbelief. They only realise what has actually happened much later.
If you find yourself in this condition, we recommend that you: - Inform the police immediately and point out clearly that knockout drops may have been used. The police will arrange for a doctor to take blood and urine samples. If you suspect that the perpetrator or perpetrators have been in your flat, inform the police so that they can collect forensic evidence.
- Check to see if you have been subjected to physical harm. Go and see a doctor straight away. Take an initial urine sample yourself and have a doctor test your urine and blood. Inform the doctor that you may have been given knockout drops.
- Check if anything has been stolen, e.g. mobile phone, cash, bank cards or valuables. Check your bank account for withdrawals. Inform your back immediately and have the stolen cards cancelled.
MANEO can provide you with professional counselling and support
Be alert!
If you find yourself in this condition, we recommend that you: - Always keep an eye on your drink, especially when in a club or bar. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by the crowd.
- Take your drink with you to the toilet, if possible, or finish it before you go so that you don’t leave it unattended.
- Glasses are wider at the top and easier to spike than bottles, which have narrower necks, so keep an eye on your glass when walking around.
- If a stranger offers you a drink, watch out for suspicious behaviour. It is best to take your drink directly from the barkeeper.
- If you suddenly notice your drink tastes soapy or salty, be particularly cautious and leave it.
- If you notice something strange about yourself or suddenly feel unwell, go directly to friends or staff, or call the police (110).
The project MANEO
The Berlin anti-violence-project MANEO exists as an independent project of Mann-O-Meter e.V. since 1990. MANEO is the most experienced and best known gay anti-violence project in Germany. Last year, its employees counselled more than 900 victims of violence, documented cases of anti-gay violence and increased public awareness to prevent violence in the future. Our work covers four main areas:
VICTIM SUPPORT · REPORT CENTRE · PREVENTION · ENGAGEMENT
The synergy of these areas drives MANEO’s dynamism. Our services are aimed at gay and bisexual teenagers and adults in Berlin – regardless whether they are based in Berlin or are here for a visit. Time and place of a crime are irrelevant for benefiting from our services. MANEO has received many awards for its prevention and victim support work.
MANEO principles
Professionality and unbureaucratic help: We offer help and support based on our experience and professionalism. Our help is immediate and unbureaucratic. We take every single case seriously. We work on an individual solution with every person that turns to us for help. Of course all information is treated confidentially.
Gays for Gays: With us nobody has to face counter-accusations or criticism. Our counselling team consists of experienced gay and bisexual men. It is our deep wish to help and support people after an act of crime or discrimination, to empower them in their sexual self-determination.