State Representative Bob Freeman (D-Nashville) is pushing for tougher penalties against those who spike drinks — a crime he says is more common than most Tennesseans realize.

In Chattanooga alone, police have reported five instances of drink spiking this year. But Freeman believes those numbers barely scratch the surface.

“One in five people who were sexually assaulted had the presence of some drugs in their system that they were not aware of,” Freeman said. “This is a problem that I don’t even think we understand how big.”

Under current Tennessee law, adding a substance to someone’s drink without their knowledge is illegal — but there's currently no legislation regarding spiking with the intent to commit sexual assault.

Per the current legal statute:

"It is an offense for a person to

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