The Israeli Protection Center operates through multiple channels to raise awareness and reduce the prevalence of drug-facilitated sexual assault:
- Operating a 24/7 emergency hotline for victims and survivors
- Holistic care – psychological support, also for family members, legal counseling and representation, rights advocacy
- Organizing conferences, delivering lectures, and training employees
- Publishing educational materials and raising awareness on social media and elsewhere
- Creating deterrence, among other things, by promoting self-defense products targeted at vulnerable populations
In addition, we are active partners in a broad-based effort in the Knesset to prevent sexual assaults, led by MK Limor Son Har-Melech, to promote the public interest shared by all of us, across sectors:
- Promoting legislation and and policy reform – mandatory training for public employees and law enforcement
- Advancing nightlife regulations – mandatory compliance for venues such as bars and clubs.
- Requiring products that deter and expose drug-facilitated assault to be made available at parties, festivals, and other gathering.
What we’ve been told:
"Do not drink from a bottle that is not hermetically sealed"
"Do not leave a glass unattended"
“Don’t mingle with a drink in your hand at a party”
"Watch your drink"
What we haven’t been told — and need to hear:
In 85% of rape cases, there is prior acquaintance with the rapist. It may happen at home. It may happen in a bar. It may happen at a restaurant. It may happen on a date. It may happen with friends. It may happen at a party. Or in the driveway of the safest place — your family home.
Drugs can be added to any drink — not just alcoholic ones — and even to food. Every year, dozens of cases are opened at the National Center in connection with drug-facilitated sexual assault.
Only a few are formally categorized as rape by intoxication. The law requires proof of lack of resistance — which is an assault where the victim could not or did not resist.
This is often difficult to prove in the context of drug-facilitated rape, due to the fast breakdown of substances in the body.
The presence of these substances can be detected in blood or urine only within 4–8 hours of ingestion
It is critical to get to the hospital as soon as possible in order to attempt to detect the substance through blood or urine tests.
As part of the broader effort, we established a dedicated unit — “Ophir Teams” — for assistance and treatment in cases of drug-facilitated sexual assault, under the leadership of Ofir Shtevi
In her new role, Ophir is leading the center’s work in this field, combining personal experience as a survivor of sexual violence with deep commitment to awareness-raising, prevention, and compassionate care for survivors. She trains and mentors the professionals on staff at the Center. Her team operates nationwide and has handled over 360 inquiries so far from individuals who suspect they were victims of drug-facilitated rape. At the Center, we provide trauma-informed psychological support, legal consultation, and family support — along with help navigating law enforcement, the healthcare system, and more.
My name is
Ofir Shtevi, I was drugged and raped by someone I thought was my friend. Following my personal story, within two years I founded a campaign against drug-facilitated sexual assault under the motto: "Anything but silence." And in 2024 I joined The Israeli Protection Center as the head of the drug-facilitated sexual assault field at the center.
I had gone through nearly every major system in the country: the police, hospitals, prosecutors, the Ministry of Health, the civil justice system — and many types of treatment, both private and public: therapy, psychiatry, writing, art, yoga, and more.
I was broken, and after I allowed myself to feel and go through the long process (which is still ongoing) of deep personal healing, I managed to bring myself back to life. I’ve experienced many of the well-known difficulties of complex PTSD and of what comes after rape:
- The loss of trust in everyone and everything around us. There are things that only a victim can understand.
- The loss of our sense of safety in the world and in ourselves.We are here for you.
- The challenge of getting to know this “new me” — the version of me that emerged after the trauma.
There are things that only a survivor can understand. I speak from years of experience supporting survivors, from a place of safety and care.
We’re here for you. Everyone at the center — and I, personally.
There are no convictions for rapists who use rape drugs = lack of deterrence.
As a society, we need to be allies to one another and lead real change. I’m no longer the same Ofir I used to be. Let’s create change together so that this doesn’t happen to others.
Unsure what happened, or if something happened?
If you have a gap in your memory, or you feel like something happened that doesn’t sit right with you… If something feels off, or you suspect alcohol had a strong effect on you — more than usual — talk to us! Unfortunately, we’ve seen many cases.
Maybe through a conversation together we can help figure out what happened and how best to support you.
We are here for you.
