*Several sources are referred to by a pseudonym to protect their identities.
In recent months, a disturbing trend has been sweeping through the Denver metro area, leaving a wake of fear and uncertainty among bar-goers and party attendees. Reports of drink spiking incidents have surged, prompting authorities to launch investigations among demands for action from the community.
Sarah Johnson’s* voice trembles as she recounts the night that changed her life forever. “It was supposed to be a celebration,” she said, her eyes clouded with the memory of that fateful evening. “But then everything went dark.”
She was out with friends, laughing and dancing when suddenly, the room began to spin. “I felt like I was losing control,” she recalled, her voice barely above a whisper. “And then… nothing. Just darkness.”
Sarah woke up hours later in a stranger’s car, her mind foggy and her body bruised. “I don’t know what happened in those lost hours,” she confessed. “And I’m not sure I want to.”
Her story is just one of many echoing through the streets of Denver, a city grappling with a surge of cases in which an attacker drugs a victim’s drink, often with Rohypnol. The effects of the drug—colloquially referred to as a roofie—can range from memory lapses to loss of consciousness. The drugs are commonly used to commit sexual assault or robbery.
Denver police only started tracking the number of people drugged against their will in January 2023 after several survivors came forward. That year, 46 cases of drink spiking were reported and one arrest was made. According to the latest data from the Denver Police Department, eight instances have been reported so far in 2024. These numbers, however, likely represent only a fraction of the actual experiences, as many cases go unreported due to victims’ fear, embarrassment or lack of awareness.
“Perhaps if the folks that are doing this are seeing that it’s being tracked and looked at, preventing any further cases from happening, because they know that there could be charges coming down their way,” Ana Martinez, The Blue Bench clinical program manager, told 9News.
Grassroots organizations and advocacy groups are taking these reports seriously, spreading awareness by urging the public to remain vigilant. The Blue Bench recommends keeping a close eye on your drink, especially when meeting with someone unfamiliar. It’s also advised to alert someone around you, like a friend, bartender or bouncer if something feels off.
“We’re seeing a lot more cases that involve people that they met on dating apps,” Martinez said. “That’s a theme we’re definitely seeing more in the past year.”
Mark Thompson*, another victim of drink spiking, vividly recalled the moment his world turned upside down. “One moment, I was laughing with my friends,” he recounted, his voice tinged with disbelief. “And the next, I couldn’t even stand up straight.”
He remembered the disorientation, the feeling of his body betraying him. “It was like my limbs had turned to jelly,” he said “I still have nightmares about what could have happened if my friends hadn’t noticed something was wrong and got me out of there.”
As the incidences of drink spiking continue to rise, the city of Denver finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with a sobering reality. Experts say decisive action is needed to safeguard the city’s neighborhoods and ensure that everyone can enjoy a night out without fear. For now, bar owners are taking the issue into their own hands by training their staff to recognize and respond to incidents of sexual harassment and assault through Safe Bars. So far, 22 alcohol-serving establishments throughout Denver have participated in the training.