Mia Mainville was at a bar in Denver surrounded by friends on New Year’s Eve when she said a stranger put drugs in her drink.
“I couldn’t focus on anyone. I didn’t have full control over my body.”
ABC
Mainville was taken by ambulance to the ER where doctors told him hospital toxicology tests could not detect certain illegal drugs, including those frequently used to spike drinks. , was instead referred to the Denver Police Department.
“The officers told me there was no reason for them to file a report because they said I hadn’t been assaulted,” Mainville said.
Many date rape drugs are rape or any type of drug used in rape. sexual assaultcan make you feel intoxicated without consuming alcohol and can affect your memory. Approximately 11 million women in the United States have been sexually assaulted while drinking or using drugs. Office of Women’s Health.
ABC affiliate KMGH-TV reported that Main Building wasn’t the only woman speaking out, as several other women claimed police were not taking their cases seriously.
“About 70 women have contacted me and told me that the same thing happened to them,” says Mainville.
ABC
Women like Colleen Mitchell, who said she believed she was drugged at a Denver bar in December.
“I called the police,” Mitchell said. “They told me that basically no crime had taken place and no assault had taken place since I got home safely.”
Denver police told ABC News that they had launched an internal investigation into how the Mainville and Mitchell cases were handled.
“There is no universally available antidote to date rape drugs,” says ABC News medical contributor and toxicologist Dr. Stephanie Widmer. “That’s why it’s so important to get medical attention right away, especially if you don’t know what you’ve been exposed to.”
How to be safer in social situations
According to the Women’s Health Administration, here are some ways to stay safe in places like bars and parties:
- Beware of drinks in punch bowls or other containers that can easily “spike”
- DO NOT ACCEPT BEVERAGES FROM OTHERS
- open your own drink
- Do not drink anything that smells strange
- don’t drink more than you want
- Seek help immediately and find a friend to help you get to safety
- Take care of your friends and ask them to take care of you
