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Months of hard work went into organizing the event. Unfortunately, despite the importance of the subject, only a handful of people came through the doors of the Théâtre du Paradis on Saturday, November 22, to attend the conference on submission and chemical vulnerability. This confidential audience didn't prevent the speakers from tackling all the problems associated with a phenomenon which, while not new, is still very difficult to combat. Chemical subjection is the act of drugging a person without his or her knowledge in order to commit a crime or misdemeanor. Chemical vulnerability concerns people who, under the voluntary influence of toxic substances (alcohol, drugs, etc.), are abused by a person who takes advantage of their state of weakness.
"A little-known form of aggression".
The conference was organized by France Victime and the Maison des femmes de Saint-Martin, under the impetus of the social service and the social affairs commission of the Collectivité territoriale. Chairwoman of the commission, Cécile Rubino Tessier, said in her introduction: "Chemical submission was not chosen at random, as it is a form of aggression that is still little known, difficult to identify and yet on the increase. It deprives victims of their consent, their memory and their freedom. This invisible violence destroys in silence. Talking about it lifts a taboo and reinforces prevention. This violence affects all territories - including our own, here in Saint-Barthélemy. You'd think that our relaxed way of life would protect us from these realities, but that's not the case. "A reality confirmed a little later in the evening by Marie-Luce Godard, vice-prosecutor of the Republic, who explained: "We live on festive islands (Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy), with people passing through, which represents additional risks. In a festive setting, the problem is that the victims have already consumed alcohol or drugs, sometimes both. What's more, our main concern is with synthetic drugs, which are undetectable. The main difficulty then lies in the burden of proof. "
A first alert in 1982
Sandrine Josso, MP for the seventh constituency of Loire-Atlantique and government official in charge of the fight against chemical submission, was the conference's main guest. Because she has made the fight against this phenomenon her hobbyhorse for the past two years. For all the women who are victims, but also for herself. Sandrine Josso has taken legal action against Senator Joël Guerriau. She accuses him of drugging her without her knowledge on November 14, 2023. Joël Guerriau's trial is scheduled for January 26 and 27. In a recent press release, the modem politician explained that she wanted to transform "a personal trauma into public action". At the conference, she stressed the importance of the fifty recommendations contained in her report. She stressed the importance of prevention and awareness-raising, as well as medical, psychological and legal support for victims. "The first alert on cases of chemical subjection dates back to 1982, and concerned children", said the MP.
For France Victime, addictology specialist Aude Canale-Fatou described the substances used for criminal purposes. These can range from cocaine to relatively common drugs available in many medicine cabinets. "The aim is to disinhibit the victim and cause them to lose touch with reality," explains Aude Canale-Fatou.
Young, very young victims
Captain Quinchon, Commander of the Saint-Barthélemy Gendarmerie Brigade, spoke about situations specific to the island. The officer pointed out that awareness-raising sessions are organized every year for seasonal workers. We warn them about potential dangers," he explained. Many of the victims on Saint-Barthélemy are young, sometimes very young, women. The difficulty is that you can't talk about chemical submission without proof. You have to collect the complaint, materialize the evidence, investigate. But when we talk about drugs, we can also talk about alcohol. "
Sibel Aydin, Director of the Maison des Femmes in Saint-Martin, insists that victims of chemical submission are "above all victims of people they trust". She adds: "The difficulty is that few people press charges. Because they're ashamed, afraid or feel guilty. Submission brings doubt, because victims suffer from double amnesia: that linked to the substance and that linked to the trauma. "She insists that the most effective expert reports, on hair, are not used enough. "Gathering evidence is a race against time, and you have to act very quickly," explains Sibel Aydin. Victims also have a role to play in this race. Don't stay on your own, ask for help if you don't feel well, take shelter, keep the evidence that could be your clothes, go to the hospital and lodge a complaint quickly," sums up Sibel Aydin. Because the complaint can be taken at the hospital by the gendarmes, who come to the scene."
An assailant known in 80% of cases
The discussions also raised the need for improvements to the system. These include harmonizing sample retention times. Toxicology is a cutting-edge science, with hundreds of new substances regularly appearing on the market," notes Sandrine Josso. The aim is to have a precise protocol so that we can be attentive at every stage, with the right equipment. "
It is generally agreed that it is difficult to draw up a profile of the aggressors. These are specific psychological profiles," notes Vice-Prosecutor Marie-Luce Godard. Sexual predators and criminals evolve in the way they achieve their ends. "However, in 80% of reported cases, the aggressor is known to the victim. It could be a family member, a close friend, etc. Predators aren't marked on the forehead," says Sandrine Josso. They use every trick in the book, social networks included."
Another aspect of chemical submission that is rarely mentioned, but which came up at the conference, is that of drugging someone to extort goods or funds. In this case, the victims are often elderly, frail or isolated.
A major national awareness and information campaign on chemical submission will be launched in 2026. "We need to tell victims that they are not alone," concluded Josso.
