AUSTIN (KXAN) — “I was drugged downtown.”
“My friend and I were recently drugged and robbed.”
“Just kind of scary to think about what could have happened.”
Those three quotes are snippets KXAN has received from viewers via email or on social media regarding drugging incidents in Austin.
The majority of people who reach out with these concerns didn’t end up wanting to speak out or provide additional information on their cases. But that doesn’t mean druggings aren’t happening.
“We do have staff members who have had these types of situations happen at other bars, so knowing that this does happen and it’s not uncommon,” said Tasha Miller, a downtown bar and restaurant owner.
Her take is one of the more detailed on-camera accounts we’ve gotten about the state of drugging culture in Austin. Miller is one of dozens of business owners taking proactive measures to combat drink spiking in Austin. She joined the City’s “Sip Safely” program earlier this year, a campaign that advertises and provides test strips for customers that detect the date-rape drug.
Examples of drugging investigations in Austin
In September of 2023, one woman anonymously shared her story of the night she says someone drugged her after sticking her with a needle.
“I don’t know,” the woman told KXAN’s Jala Washington. “We went to one of the places I’m really familiar with, and then I had one drink at the next place and went to the bathroom…from then on out. I don’t know what happened.”
The woman said her friend saw her get into a rideshare with a stranger, so the friend got in the car as well, and called the woman’s mother, keeping her on the phone the whole time.
“My daughter has been really upset… why would somebody intentionally go out to harm her?” the woman’s mother said.
Police confirmed with KXAN they were investigating the matter.
In January of this year, APD put out a notice saying they were looking for a woman accused of drugging multiple people downtown and stealing their credit cards.
Those victims “were potentially drugged,” and their credit cards and cellphones were taken, police said. APD said the phones and credit cards were ultimately used to commit fraudulent transactions adding up to more than $75,000.
‘Exact number’ of druggings difficult to track in Austin, police say
“We do have an issue from time to time where we have people getting drugged or reporting they were drugged,” said Lt. Christopher Juusola.
He said investigating drugging cases comes with its own set of challenges. One of the primary difficulties, Juusola said, is the fact that gathering evidence is time-sensitive.
“We often have to collect evidence to prove they were drugged in the first place,” he said. “That requires them to go to the hospital and have their blood or their urine analyzed. Oftentimes, depending on the substance, it will move through their body quicker, making it harder to track.”
KXAN went back and forth with APD trying to track down how many reports of drugging police have received over time. That request came with another set of challenges.
For one, APD doesn’t classify “drugging” as its own crime. Rather, it’s recorded as a component of another crime, like sexual assault or theft.
Police also say druggings are underreported, so any numerical figures would likely represent a skewed reality.
“Often hard to come up with an exact number of people who were drugged when visiting an entertainment district,” Juusola said.
Who to report drugging cases to
“Any time you’re a victim of a crime, we encourage you to call 311 or 911. It’s important to call us as fast as you can,” Juusola said, while still noting the sensitive nature and trauma surrounding the idea.
The department said if you report the incident, investigators can help facilitate a drug test – and you can ultimately choose not to pursue the case down the line if that is something you no longer wish to do.
Connecting with the SAFE Alliance is another option.
“SAFE offers medical care, evidence collection, advocacy, and referrals to follow up care to adolescents and adults following a sexual assault or a suspected sexual assault,” the organization told KXAN in an email. Staff further clarified that you can also reach out to SAFE if you believe you were drugged but do not believe you were sexually assaulted.
To reach SAFE for you or a loved one, you can call (512) 267-7233.