State Sen. Eric Adams is stepping up to protect women against sexual predators that use drugs to rape their victims.

The state senator is championing the cause of date rape victims who were drugged prior to their attacks. Adams is calling for specific hospital and police procedures to determine the presence of date rape drugs in sexual assault cases.

"We must establish a strict procedural protocol to detect the presence of date rape pharmaceutical products in sexual assault cases," said Adams in a press release. "Often, homemade concoctions of readily available over-the-counter medications are used by malefactors. Testing will aid in the apprehension and conviction of those who employ these products as a tool to further their heinous criminal activity."

Adams also wants legislation to toughen penalties for those date rapists. Part of his proposal includes prosecuting criminals that use date rape drugs to the fullest extent. The crime would then be elevated to a Class-C felony and be accompanied by a 15-year jail sentence.