"Spiking" is adding a sedative substance to people's food and drink without their knowledge or consent. The victim is rendered completely helpless and often suffers memory blackout — and crimes go unreported. "I didn't know why, but I knew something bad had happened," says Kate, recalling the night she was "knocked out". The following day, she realized she had been raped. Lawyer Jochen Link from the German organization Weißer Ring, which supports victims of crime, warns that the extent of the problem is being underestimated. 

The range of substances used is wide — from party drugs to sedatives and sleeping pills. Many victims feel ashamed or afraid that they won't be taken seriously. Nina, who reported a rape, describes it this way: "Right from the start, I felt I wouldn't be believed." Despite evidence being found, her case never went to trial.

Detection remains extremely difficult, partly because once ingested, many substances are quickly broken down by the body. Researchers at Charité University Hospital in Berlin are therefore investigating the substances most found in spiking cases. What all documented cases have in common is the experience of loss of control. "The memory gaps are hard to bear," explains one expert — especially when those affected have experienced sexual violence.

Victims' lawyer Link also calls for more than just tougher penalties: "We as a society need to work on this. And not just politicians, but all of us."

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