Drugging FAQ

How can I report a drugging to the university?

You have options for reporting a drugging to the University, including (1) reporting to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, (2) reporting to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, and (3) reporting to the University of Oregon Police Department.

If you know the name of the person who drugged you, you have the option of pursuing criminal charges and/or a Student Conduct process. Potential university sanctions for drugging include suspension and expulsion from the University. Students who believe they have been drugged also have the option to speak with a Confidential Advocate in the Care and Advocacy Program in the Office of the Dean of Students to discuss their options.

What if I don’t want to report to the university?

It is your choice whether to report to the University. But even if you do not file a formal report, we hope that you choose to tell someone what happened so that you can get the help and support that you need. Disclosing to a Confidential Advocate is not an official report to the University because your conversation is confidential. A Confidential Advocate can provide support and resources and help you to understand your options, including the opportunity for supportive measures and to be reimbursed for certain medical expenses related to the drugging.

If I was drugged, does that mean that I was sexually assaulted?

While drugging sometimes leads to sexual assault and “date rape” drugs are often used to drug victims, the terms “drugging” and “sexual assault” have different meanings. The term “drugging” means causing someone to ingest an intoxicating substance or poison without their knowledge. The term “sexual assault” means nonconsensual sexual contact with another person. Both are prohibited under the Student Conduct Code. And both are crimes. There is absolutely no requirement for a sexual assault to have occurred for a drugging to be taken seriously.

What should I do if I suspect that I’ve been drugged?

If you believe that you have been drugged, you are encouraged to seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you are interested in a toxicology screen as a result of a drugging, you should get a sexual assault exam at the Health Center (during business hours) or the nearest hospital emergency department. The sample can be used as evidence should you want to pursue criminal charges at any point in the future—though getting a sexual assault exam does not require you to do so. You even have the option of getting an anonymous exam. There is no charge for this exam at the Health Center.

In Oregon, sexual assault exams are covered by a state fund (Oregon SAVE) at any medical facility that has trained medical staff approved to provide sexual assault exams. This includes UO Health Services and both ERs in the Eugene/Springfield area. Forensic exams for reporting to police and anonymous forensic exams for evidence preservation are free and available for up to 120 hours (5 days) after an assault. Wellness exams for survivors wanting medical care without evidence collection are available for up to a week after an assault. UO has additional funding resources available for students to make sure students get the medical care they need even if they no longer qualify for a free exam.

The Health Center will automatically route requests for a tox screen to their sexual assault medical staff, but at an emergency department you will need to specifically request a sexual assault exam to get the help you need. Also, a sexual assault exam is not a single process. In an examination, you can discuss your particular experience of harm, and the examiner will recommend appropriate care and steps, including evidence collection, based on your unique situation. You can then consent to—or decline—any of those recommendations. If you only want or need a toxicology screening, that’s perfectly ok. You are encouraged to seek medical attention as soon as possible because many of the substances used in drugging cases will clear your system within a short period of time and will therefore not be detectable on a toxicology screen.

What else should I know about drugging?

Voluntarily ingesting intoxicating substances such as alcohol and/or marijuana (or other intoxicants) can leave you feeling as if you have been drugged, as they can impact your balance, your memory, and how you feel. In addition, if you take prescription medication, you are strongly encouraged to abide by drug interaction information and to speak with your pharmacist or medical provider about the potential risks of combining prescription medication(s) with alcohol and/or marijuana, including edibles.

How intoxicated you become as a result of using alcohol will depend on a variety of factors, including whether you have eaten, your prior experience with alcohol, and whether you combine alcohol with other substances, including marijuana or even an energy drink. Similarly, how intoxicated you become as a result of using marijuana will depend on a variety of factors, including the amount of THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) you consume and how much marijuana you consume. Finally, a percentage of the population is prone to adverse reactions to marijuana. So, if you choose to use marijuana, you are encouraged to do so carefully and in the company of someone you trust, particularly if you are new to using marijuana.

Are students who are intoxicated held responsible if accused of sexual assault?

Regardless of whether a student is intoxicated, that student is responsible for ensuring that their sexual partner is able to consent to sexual activity. In other words, students are responsible for their actions, whether or not they are intoxicated. Just as an individual who is intoxicated can be arrested and prosecuted for driving under the influence of intoxicants, a student who is intoxicated, by alcohol or another substance, is responsible for their conduct while in an intoxicated state. If a potential romantic partner is intoxicated, you should refrain from sexual activity with that person. If you do not know whether a potential romantic partner is intoxicated, you should refrain from sexual activity with that person.