(Boston–1/30/2023) State Senator Paul R. Feeney has filed legislation to address the rise in the disturbing trend of reported “Date Rape Drug” incidents across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  

In response to the numerous news stories on drugged drinks, involuntary date rape drug ingestion, and the flurry of police alerts across the Commonwealth warning residents of the dangers of this illegal practice, Senator Feeney filed SD2411, “An Act establishing testing protocol and care for victims of date rape drugs.” This legislation creates a “Date Rape Drug Response and Intervention Task Force” to study, report and recommend regulations relative to patient access to hospital care for victims of date rape drugs. The task force will be assigned with collecting data and tracking confirmed drugging incidents and issuing recommendations on standardizing care and testing at hospitals across the Commonwealth for victims, regardless of whether or not a sexual assault has occurred.  

The bill also requires The Department of Public Health (DPH) to provide on its website resources on types of known date rape drugs and provide resources to individuals who suspect they have been drugged. The bill would also allow DPH to require all hospitals issue a urine sample or relevant drug test to identify the presence of a date rape drug upon request by a patient showing symptoms. The bill permits resources from the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Trust Fund to be used for developing a testing standard for patient-reported drugging and developing a trauma-based empathy training program for nurses caring for patients of suspected or confirmed drugging incidents. 

“It is critical that we create a uniform testing standard across our hospital system for the presence of date rape drugs – whether or not a sexual assault has occurred. Ensuring that the proper resources are available to victims of date rape drugs should be a top priority as we address this alarming and illegal practice. I look forward to partnering with and advocating for survivors this legislative session,” said Senator Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough).  

The current gaps in our state law surrounding the involuntary consumption of date rape drugs came into focus for Senator Feeney when he recently came across a viral TikTok posted by Mansfield resident and current Northeastern University student, Brinly Meelia, where she chronicled her struggles finding care following a suspected drugging incident because she had not been sexually assaulted as part of the drugging incident.  

This constituent’s experience is all too common in the Commonwealth, as evidenced by the numerous news stories on date rape drug incidents over the last year alone. Creating a standard practice for date rape drug testing in the hospital setting – regardless of whether a sexual assault has occurred – is needed to support victims and address this new emerging public health crisis, particularly among young people. 

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