12 Party Goers Drugged in WA College Incident

College parties can get crazy. It's no wonder that young co-eds drinking too much cheap beer is a popular scene to depict in Hollywood. But when over a dozen partygoers experience more than just a hangover, some foul play may be involved. That is exactly what happened when twelve partygoers were drugged in a Washington college house party incident last week. After the several girls began uncontrollably vomiting and passing out everywhere, they were rushed to the hospital, and police are now investigating whether the drinks were spiked.

Seattle PI reports that a recent party with students from Central Washington University may have had some form of a date-rape drug in the drinks. Many of the victims only had a couple of drinks before falling unconscious at the party. Police are testing the blood of the victims to determine what exactly got into their system to cause such a powerful reaction. The party was held at the house of a Central Washington University freshman, with close to fifty people in attendance. Many of the victims were college freshman, well under the legal drinking age.

The PI quotes local Police Sergeant Monty Moore on the scene, "The house was packed with people. We found people passed out, incoherent, of all different levels of intoxication ... some in need of medical attention. There was vomit everywhere, inside and out." Placing drugs in a drink usually comes with the dual purpose of rendering the victim helpless to sexual advances, once the effects of the drug take place. From a legal standpoint, individuals caught with roofies can face drug charges as well as sexual assault, if the situation escalates to such an encounter. Date rape drugs, such as roofies, are most problematic on college campuses where students do not always know (or care) what they are drinking or where their drink originally came from.

The PI adds that there will be school-instituted repercussions for the partygoers drugged in WA will come in the form of a conduct hearing. The students may also be required to take a drug and alcohol course, and potentially face some form of suspension from school. For now, the school and local authorities are hoping to track down the individual who placed the drugs in the drinks.

Related Resources:

• Cops Investigating Overdoses of 12 Teens on Spiked Drinks (ABC News)
• Alcohol (FindLaw's LawBrain)
• The Problem With Mainstream Attitudes Towards Date Rape (FindLaw's Writ)
• Rape, Sexual Assault, Date Rape and Statutory Rape (provided by Patrick J. Artur & Associates)
• Underage Alcohol and/or License Violations FAQ (provided by Law Office of Christopher A. Connelly)