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Brinly Meelia, a third-year student at Northeastern University majoring in Public Health, was drugged in an off-campus setting last Fall. Seeking resources and help, she went to Mass General Hospital for date-rape drug (DRD) testing. However, she was denied access to testing due to the absence of suspicion of sexual assault.
Taking to TikTok, Brinly shared her experience, resonating with thousands of individuals who had faced similar situations and desired to address this issue. Motivated to instigate change, she advocated for policy alterations within the Mass General Hospital's Emergency and Toxicology Departments. Eventually, her efforts led to a significant policy revision, enabling individuals to undergo DRD testing irrespective of suspicions of sexual assault.
Brinly's impactful narrative caught the attention of Massachusetts Bristol County Senator Paul Feeney, prompting him to create MA Bill S.1371, titled "An Act establishing testing protocol and care for victims of date rape drugs." For further details on this bill, please click here.
Senator Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough)
“There has been an alarming increase in reported incidents of spiked drinks at bars, nightclubs, concert venues and even house parties across the Nation. Yet when victims of this crime go to the hospital to get tested and confirm whether they have been drugged, far too many are reportedly turned away and refused testing unless the survivor is also reporting a sexual assault or rape as part of the drugging incident. This pervasive roadblock to testing and confirming cases of involuntary drink spiking means that survivors are left searching for answers, incidents of this crime remain unreported, and perpetrators continue to walk free.
In response, I have filed S.1371, “An Act establishing testing protocol and care for victims of date rape drugs” to create a uniform testing protocol and standard of care across the Massachusetts hospital setting so that victims can get the answers they deserve without first playing hospital roulette in an attempt to find out what they were drugged with. Regardless of where you live, survivors should expect the same standard of care and should trust they will be tested and given needed resources. Additionally, testing is vital so that data on this crime can be collected and law enforcement officials are given the tools they need to investigate and prosecute.
In addition to S.1371, I am also proud to have secured $300,000 in the Fiscal Year 2024 Massachusetts State Budget to authorize the bulk purchase of drink spiking test or other evidence-based drink spiking prevention strategies, while also directing the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to launch a public awareness campaign to inform the public about the prevalence and danger of drink spiking. Of the $300,000 secured in the budget for drink spiking prevention, $150,000 will go towards the purchase of drink spiking test kits, and the remining $150,000 for the public awareness campaign.
I am eager to continue partnering with survivors, healthcare providers, law enforcement professionals, local officials, and advocates to continue turning talk into action and address this crisis with the urgency it deserves,” said State Senator Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough)."
Link to Senator Feeney’s testimony before the Joint Committee on Public Health, June 6, 2023: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/4558 (Testimony begins at 21:04)