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Germany to classify date rape drugs as weapons to ensure justice for survivors
(www.theguardian.com)
Isn't being raped enough to ensure justice for survivors?
this post was submitted on 21 Nov 2025
710 points (99.3% liked)
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No. Drugging them is enough of a threat even if the culprit doesn't manage to rape his victim. Treating at attempt to drug someone with a date rape drug as assault sounds like it might be a very good idea. Though I admit I haven't thought about all the angles yet.
I see, but isn't alcohol also able to do this? Did I just drink a weapon with my pizza?
Alcohol isn't quite as dramatic or hard to detect, but you shouldn't be sneaking alcohol into people's non-alcoholic drinks either. Or otherwise intentionally get them drunk. That's only for them to decide.
I have some problem with this proposal:
- These drugs are around also, you know, for sick people who need them. It is the case of my mom who has multi sclerosis and the only pain killer effective on her is known as a rape drug.
- Chemical submission can be achieved with a wide range of things, most commonly use it probably alcohol, regular drinks such as wine and beer. Attempting chemical submission with those shouldn't fly under the radar of justice!
- I think it would be much more effective to amend the law in order for all cases of chemicals submission (with or without rape) and rapes to be brought to justice
- A big issue that is ignored with this proposal is, victims often don't report the aggression or don't complete the full procedure. Police and Justice system personnel must be better trained about these cases of rape and rape with chemical submission in order for the victims to be able to report their aggression without feeling judgement or shame through out the entire process, from the police report until the conclusion of the court.
I mean, they literally are weapons...
Potentially deadly
Maybe someone more educated than me on the topic can be more descriptive of how it would be classified. Would it not be a chemical weapon by definition?
In a logical world it would be. But criminally I don't think anywhere differentiates type of weapon other than "firearm" and "deadly".
They need to fully separate it from date rape too. Back in my younger days I knew 3 different dudes who got dosed out at bars. I highly doubt they were intended rape victims, but a lot of robberies start out with someone slipping something into your drink, then getting you in the parking lot.
Drugging anyone for anyone reason should qualify as attempted manslaughter. Which, counter intuitively is a real charge.
It makes it easier to charge rapists too because you don't have to prove rape, and can even charge them before a rape happens. If you can prove rape, throw it on top as additional charges.
Drugging someone is maybe not manslaughter (depends on what drug you use and what dose you use) but it is always assault and can be prosecuted as such.
This does not matter. In a criminal context weapon usually means something capable of inflicting great harm as a tool commit or execure a crime. If you steal something while having a screwdriver in your backpack you are screwed (literally) since you could have used it for executing the robbery. While the rules here may not be that strict (possession of said drugs while commuting sexual assault) using drugs to commit sexual assault of any form would be the same as using a knife to force the victim to not resist. There are no further classifications like chemical or mechanical weapon, since it does not matter.
I think the primary distinction is that a weapon in a criminal context is typically something that is used to threaten/coerce someone, or to enable you to cause (more/more severe) physical harm/incapacitation in a physical altercation.
Date rape drugs aren't used to threaten/coerce people, and whilst they can cause harm, it is generally not the intended goal when someone uses them. And intent/willingness to use a weapon to physically harm someone, in my opinion, is a relevant distinction to relatively """peacefully""" knocking someone out. Of course committing date rape is still an utterly horrific thing, and people who do it should be charged and held accountable to the fullest extent of justice, but it is still different from threatening someone with a weapon and forcing yourself on them. (Also, whilst I have no actual data on this, it seems logical to me that a conscious victim is far more likely to receive (more serious) injuries as they struggle, vs. an unconscious one)
So whilst I agree that classifying date rape drugs as weapons is a good move, there definitely are relevant distinctions as to why drugs are typically not considered weapons.
The thing about "date rape drugs" is that plenty, I would say most of, their users are not using them for SA. GHB for example, is/was a pretty common party drug, especially in the gay scene. "Roofies" or Flunitrazepam, are one of the rarest drugs going these days, prescription or illicit. Xannax fits that bill these days. So depending on how the legislation is written, if these drugs are only classified as weapons in assault cases, I suppose that's good. But I don't agree with the further criminalization of drugs in general.
Also the most common date rape drug bar none is Alcohol
You make a good point that there aren't more classifications, the only other one I can think of is state dependent, and that's vehicular manslaughter.
Poison has been a weapon for ages, so I fully agree.
I was originally against this because I hate it when language is reconstituted and made murkey, but I looked it up and you're right.
I'm still not sure this is the same as poison, but it can certainly be harmful so it's not that big a stretch.
Wow Dobrindt say something that is not completely braindead and illegal? Wonders still exist.
I kind of had an issue with this at first read, because if anyone is taking some ghb (and not using it to rape people) having weapons charges is ridiculous.
But I've got no issue with increased penalties for anyone using this stuff to rape someone. There should be no fucking quarter to anyone caught doing this.
Increased penalties if you're caught taking them yourself recreationally are ridiculous though.
While date rap and sexual violence is horrible... Do these drugs have any real value?
Like yes they can be used for date rape but are also given anti-anxiety or ant-nausea or anything like that?
One of my fiancés is narcoleptic and needs meds like GHB to sleep 'cuz the anti-narcoleptics she needs to stay awake during the day won't let her sleep otherwise.
Hmm interesting and makes sense.
Wait one of your fiancé? How many women are you planning to marry?
None, but the married couple I've been with for a while finally popped the question to me last week. 🥰
What in the Utah
My life is.. complicated.
Hey whatever it takes to get health insurance and visas for as many people as possible haha
Is the stimulant desoxyn by chance?
They're only being classified as weapons in prosecution, not being banned.
That makes sense. It also proves that it was premeditated.
Makes sense
GHB is freely available because it's used as an industrial solvent and cleaning agent, that's why it's legal in most countries.
Many people also use it as a recreational drug, it's effects are similar to alcohol at low dosages
scopalamine is one that used for date raped, although not common, it appears to make you unconscious for a day if high enough. the show Criminal minds had an episode where the perpatrator used to rape/ or rob people.
Yeah but why is it allowed at all if that's the case?
You want to ban sea sickness tablets? Libs really will jump to ban anything
Hold on, it's used for sea sickness?
If that's the case it should be allowed, maybe controlled but should be allowed. Never said something with a legimite use should be banned. Just asked what the legitimate uses were. Actually I never mentioned banning anything.
How is the phrase "why is it allowed at all?" Not implying a ban. Pearl clutching intensifies
Most are used as either anaesthetics or prescribed for insomnia.
I'm not an expert on this, but I know it's common to use things like tranquilizers intended for farm animals.
This is kind of smart.
Ah, KO-Tropfen?