You can’t smell them, you can’t taste them, but they can really mess with partygoers: anyone who is drugged with knockout drops can, in the worst case, lose consciousness. The victims are mostly women. The perpetrators render them defenseless—often in order to rape them. The substance is usually mixed into drinks. Rumors on social media that toilet paper is now being laced with the chemicals at parties have not been confirmed by the police.
Odorless and dangerous
Knockout drops are poured into the drinks of female partygoers—and, in rare cases, men—when they are not looking. According to the Baden-Württemberg police, these can be medications such as anesthetics and sedatives or so-called party drugs such as GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) or GBL (gamma-butyrolactone). GHB is also known as “liquid ecstasy.” These substances, especially when combined with alcohol, cause drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and sometimes unconsciousness. This increases the risk of becoming a victim of sexual assault. Victims are usually unable to remember what happened. These substances can be very dangerous if taken in excess.
Police advice:
– Order drinks from the wait staff and pick them up yourself.
– Do not accept open drinks from strangers.
– Do not leave open drinks unattended.
– If you feel nauseous, seek help from staff. Friends should look out for each other and keep an eye on their drinks.
– Friends should agree to seek immediate medical attention and notify staff in case of an emergency.
If it does happen:
According to the police, it is important to consult a doctor immediately. Knockout drops can only be detected in urine and blood for a maximum of 12 hours. However, detection is important in order to file a criminal complaint with the police, for example for assault or rape. Women’s emergency hotlines and counseling centers offer support and assistance.
No danger from toilet paper
Social media was abuzz with reports that knockout drops were being dripped onto toilet paper in women’s restrooms during Carnival celebrations. The substance would then be absorbed through the mucous membranes when the paper was used. Experts doubt this. “Such ideas are absolutely absurd,” says Sebastian Kunz, a forensic scientist from Ulm, quoted by Südwestrundfunk (SWR). “Tablets or powder would not stick to toilet paper, and drops would render the paper unusable.” The Constance Police Headquarters writes on the internet: “The police are not aware of the procedure described.” According to SWR, the Reutlingen and Ravensburg police headquarters are also unaware of any such cases.
The substances used to manufacture knockout drops are expected to be officially banned in Germany from April 2026. They may only be manufactured and sold if they are used as industrial chemicals. Until now, substances similar to nitrous oxide have been available online in some cases.
https://praevention.polizei-bw.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2016/10/FALTBLATT-KO-Tropfen.pdf
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