Rampant druggings and robberies plague New York nightlife.
At least seven clubgoers have died in New York City due to drug-assisted thefts, with at least 43 known druggings since September 2021. Police have arrested four suspects who conspired to drug and rob intoxicated individuals upon exiting bars or nightclubs. The attacks have left the LGBTQ+ community feeling particularly vulnerable, as many of the incidents have occurred in queer venues. Victims and community members are calling for increased safety measures, including harm reduction models and stronger fraud protection measures from payment apps like Zelle.