A number of incidents involving "KO drops", or date rape drugs, have been reported to RTL following two popular student parties in Luxembourg.
Allegations of the use of these date rape drugs surfaced following the "Zürcher Bal" on Christmas Day, and the New Year's Eve ball for students, both held at the Luxexpo.
How true are these claims? RTL spoke to the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps, as well as the Grand Ducal police and local hospitals in order to verify the allegations.
Police information
The police confirmed they had been called out to an incident in the early hours of 26 December, at around 3am, after a number of people complained of feeling unwell, and raised the suspicion that someone had spiked their drinks. The officers on the scene advised the patients to seek medical assistance and to get tested for various substances. In the event that the tests came back with positive results, the police encouraged the individuals to file an official complaint.
The police were also in attendance at the Luxexpo venue on New Year's Eve; however, these were said to be routine checks, rather than a response to an alert.
When questioned by RTL, the police said they could not confirm whether a complaint had been filed or not.
Hospital response
The Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg confirmed it had been on call on Christmas Day; however, according to RTL sources, the hospital had not observed any cases involving date rape drugs. Although a number of patients from the ball - mostly young women - had sought medical assistance, they were all found to be heavily intoxicated without the presence of illegal substances.
Dr Emile Bock, medical director of the accident and emergency department at the Robert Schuman Hospital, told RTL that between 20 and 25 young women had sought help from the emergency department on New Year's Eve. All were found to have extremely high blood alcohol levels, ranging between 2 and 3 permille.
CGDIS response
The Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) confirmed they had attended one instance on 25 December in which a person suspected they had been drugged without their knowledge.
On New Year's Eve, the CGDIS was called out to six incidents relating to alcohol, drugs, or potential date rape substances. All the patients in question refused transportation to hospital, meaning the emergency services could not establish whether the incidents were related to illegal substances.
Are these instances becoming more frequent?
The Luxembourg police could not provide exact figures as to the number of cases involving date rape drugs. It is therefore difficult to establish whether these cases are becoming more frequent or not, while the matter is further compounded by the fact that such substances can only be detected in a patient's blood or urine for a matter of hours following consumption.
Seven complaints were filed after incidents at parties in Hachiville and Ell in late 2022. A police spokesperson confirmed the investigations were still ongoing.
How should one react in a case of suspected consumption?
Dr. Emile Bock of the HRS said it could not be definitively ruled out that some of the patients had had their drinks spiked at the parties. However, it was a question of probability, he said. The doctor advised that future partygoers exercise caution and vigilance, whilst keeping an eye on their drinks at all times.
The CGDIS said only a full screening conducted by the National Health Laboratory (LNS) could clarify whether a person had been drugged or not.
The police advise partygoers to react quickly to any suspected drink spiking and immediately seek help and medical testing. It is also important to follow such cases up with an official police complaint, which would help police to continue investigations, they said.
