Just before the street carnival reaches its peak, the CDU youth wing in North Rhine‑Westphalia is demanding a stronger stance on the use of knockout drops. Kevin Gniosdorz, chairman of the Junge Union regional committee, told the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday edition) that “the deployment of knockout drops is a particularly insidious form of targeted violence that leaves victims helpless and is often only recognized late, or may even go completely undetected”.
Gniosdorz noted that many people immediately think of bars, clubs or party tents when they hear about knockout drops. However, scientific studies on sexualised violence under the influence of alcohol or drugs show that a considerable portion of such incidents occurs in close social proximity-often involving acquaintances and frequently in private settings.
In response, JU NRW is calling for a nationwide hidden‑crime study that would “systematically examine the scope, contexts of the offences and the barriers to seeking help and reporting”. The group also wants research into how the use of incapacitating substances as a means of offence can be better reflected in police crime statistics. “Methodologically challenging, but this should not prevent us from making the phenomenon statistically visible” Gniosdorz said. “Without statistical visibility, preventive action remains blind”.