(Boston—5/25/23) Senator Paul R. Feeney (D-Foxborough) announces the successful passage of an amendment he filed to the Fiscal Year 2024 Senate Ways and Means Budget allocating $300,000 towards preventing and raising awareness about the ongoing drink spiking crisis facing the Commonwealth. 

Amendment #568 “Drink Spiking Tests Bulk Purchase Program and Awareness Campaign" allocates $150,000 to the Department of Public Health Division of Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention and Services to develop evidence-based and evidence-informed prevention strategies to address the rising incidence of reported drink spiking in the Commonwealth. Specifically, this amendment authorizes the bulk purchase of drink spiking test kits to be distributed at bars, restaurants, and nightlife establishments in the Commonwealth. This amendment also allocates $150,000 for the Department of Public Health’s Division of Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention and Services to develop and launch a strategic and comprehensive public awareness campaign to inform the public about the prevalence and danger of involuntary drink spiking. 

“Over the last year alone the Commonwealth has seen an alarming increase in the number of reported drink spiking incidents at bars, nightclubs, concert venues and even house parties across the Commonwealth. These incidents are all too common, and we’ve seen countless warnings from law enforcement: use the buddy system, cover your drink, and don’t leave your drink unattended. Yet reports of these incidents persist, and the Commonwealth’s response is still catching up to the onslaught of these reports,” said State Senator Paul Feeney, during his remarks on the Senator floor.   

Additionally, the amendment requires the Department of Public Health to issue a report on its findings by December 29, 2023. The department is directed to study and recommend strategies regarding the purchase and distribution of eligible drink spiking prevention tools, including drink spiking test kits, how prevention tools can be distributed in an effective manner to individuals and vulnerable populations, including directly to bars, restaurants and nightlife establishments, as well as other considerations the department may deem relevant for a public health response to drink spiking incidents in the Commonwealth.   

“This amendment represents a timely and feasible pathway to address the drink spiking crisis on the front end, and I am eager to continue working with DPH, drink spiking victims, advocacy groups, healthcare professionals, members of law enforcement, business owners and public officials to address this crisis. I thank all my colleagues in the Senate, especially Senate President Karen E. Spilka and Chair of Senate Ways and Means, Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, for their leadership in bringing this issue to the forefront of our debate,” said Senator Feeney.    

The amendment passed by a vote of 39-0 on a roll call vote. 

S1371, “An Act establishing testing protocol and care for victims of date rape drugs” 

Senator Feeney has separately filed legislation to address the drink spiking crisis on multiple fronts. S.1371, “An Act establishing testing protocol and care for victims of date rape drug” 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, as well as issuing recommendations on standardizing care and requirements for mandatory testing at hospitals across the Commonwealth for victims, regardless of whether or not a sexual assault has occurred. 

This issue came into focus for Senator Feeney when he recently viewed a viral TikTok posted by Mansfield resident and current Northeastern University student, Brinly Meelia, who chronicled her struggles finding care following a suspected drugging incident because she had not been sexually assaulted as part of the drugging incident. Since then, Senator Feeney’s office has heard from countless victims, survivors, and family members who have been affected by the crisis. 

"Survivors shouldn't have to play hospital roulette and guess which provider is going to test them for being involuntarily drugged at a nightclub," Feeney said. Whether you are at a bar in Boston, Barnstable, or in Attleboro, victims should know with confidence that they can walk into an emergency room, get the testing they need, and confirm whether they have been drugged.”  

TEXT OF AMENDMENT 568: 

Drink Spiking Tests Bulk Purchase Program and Awareness Campaign 

Mr. Feeney moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 4513-1136, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for the department of public health’s division of sexual and domestic violence prevention and services, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, to develop, research and recommend evidence-based and evidence-informed prevention strategies to address the rising incidence of reported drink spiking in the commonwealth; provided further, that funds may be expended for the bulk purchase of drink spiking test kits to be distributed at bars, restaurants and nightlife establishments in the commonwealth; provided further, that not later than December 29, 2023, the department shall submit a report to the joint committee on public health and the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing: (i) recommendations for eligible, research-based drink spiking prevention tools, including, but not limited to, drink spiking test kits; (ii) an examination of how prevention tools can be distributed in an effective manner to individuals and vulnerable populations, including, but not limited to, distribution directly to bars, restaurants and nightlife establishments; and (iii) other considerations the department may deem relevant for an evidence-based or evidence-informed public health response to drink spiking incidents in the commonwealth; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for the department of public health’s division of sexual and domestic violence prevention and services to develop and launch a strategic and comprehensive public awareness campaign to inform the public about the prevalence and danger of involuntary drink spiking through the department’s website, digital and social media, traditional media and other media; provided further, that the department may partner with relevant advocacy organizations, employers, boards of health, institutions of higher education and community groups to ensure that the campaign reaches populations deemed most at risk of being targeted for drink spiking and includes evidence-based, evidence-informed and culturally-relevant response and safety tips for patrons at bars, restaurants and nightlife establishments”; and  

by striking out the figure “$71,211,757” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$71,511,757”. 

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