Students of the LAB University of Applied Sciences in Lahti and Lappeenranta say that they got drugged at several parties during the fall. The police have not received criminal reports from the students about the incidents.
Doubts related to knockout drops have overshadowed student parties in Lahti and Lappeenranta. During the fall, the subject organizations of the LAB University of Applied Sciences and the student union KOE have received information from almost every student event that at least one participant believes they have been drugged.
Many students of LAB University of Applied Sciences have weighed whether it is safe to participate in student events. The number of party participants has slightly decreased due to the cases of knockout drops.
In November, Yle reported how, according to customers, drugging in bars has increased.
Feeling unusually bad has made students suspect knockout drops
Yle also inquired about some of the higher education institutions in Helsinki, Turku, Vaasa, Oulu and Tampere, whether there have been suspected cases of drugging at their parties. The student and student unions of the schools are told that no cases have come to their attention.
According to the Police Board, crime reports related to knock-out drops often come to the police in the form of raids. When the matter comes up, more people are encouraged to tell about what happened.
– Often the bad feeling has continued for a long time and the general condition has worsened considerably. Then those who don’t drink alcohol notice it right away.
Häme police has not received a single crime report from students related to drugs this fall. According to the police, a large number of cases of knock-out drops remain outside the statistics because not everyone files a criminal report.
The reasons for the lack of criminal reports can be, for example, the shame experienced by the victims or the fact that a drug test has not been taken.
The drug test was missed due to the queue at the emergency room
Nykänen had been at the continuation of the student event in October. After the second drink of the evening, he suddenly felt bad. Nykänen remembers telling his friends about his condition and going to sit down for a while.
– After that, my thoughts are interrupted and I don’t really remember anything. I have heard about the evening from my friends who took care of me.
The friends called an ambulance when Nykänen’s legs couldn’t carry him. The doctor who consulted the nurses decided that he did not need to go to the emergency room right away because his life was not in danger. However, the doctor recorded that Nykänen should go to the emergency room the next day. So Nykänen took a taxi home.
The next morning, Nykänen was still feeling terrible. He knew that the students had been drugged at the party and tried to get a drug test.
Nykänen called several parties to get help, but he was always directed forward. Finally, he called 911.
According to Nykänen, in the call he was urged to think carefully about whether he wants to sit in the emergency room for several hours. Due to feeling bad, Nykänen decided to stay home.
– The feeling was terrible, so I decided to let it be. If I don’t get help now, I won’t be able to sit for hours.
Nykänen has not filed a criminal complaint because he read that there should be a drug sample for that. Without a sample, it is difficult to prove a crime.
Some substances used for drugging leave the body in up to twelve hours. The goal is for the tests to be done no later than one day after receiving the knock-out drops
Nykäst regrets that he didn’t go to the emergency room to wait in line. He has considered whether he could still file a criminal complaint together with other victims.
The incident caused Nykäne fears, which she received help in discussing students’ health care.
– When I tried to return to student events, I stared at my drink neurotically and was afraid. I have gradually gotten over it, but there is always the fear of what if it happens again. I’m also afraid for my friends.
Nykänen hopes that the cases of knockouts will end.
– This is a sick joke that must stop. We too have the right to be safe.
Students have few means to combat the phenomenon
The students involved in subject organizations and the student union KOE have taken the phenomenon seriously.
Students’ means to prevent drugging incidents are limited. LAB’s student organizations have tried to spread information about where to get help.
The effort is that there are easily identifiable contact persons for harassment at the events who are also ready to help. The students are also organizing an anti-drug event in February.
Student Union Board Chair Jenny Hieto reminds that KOE members are also ready to help in making a criminal report.
The students hope to be able to celebrate safely next year. However, there has also been one good side to be found in Hieto in the unpleasant events.
– Maybe I’ve noticed an increase in community because of this. We have a really tight community and we take good care of each other.
*Have you gotten drugged at a student party or do you know that drugging happened in your own student circles? Tell us about it so that we can get a better idea of \u200b\u200bthe scope of the problem for a possible follow-up story. You can send an email to emilia.korpela@yle.fi.*