Sexual assault under benzodiazepine submission in a Paris suburb

Abstract

Sexual assaults under benzodiazepine submission have been described, since use of benzodiazepine enables non consensual sexual activity but rarely fully reported. An accurate evaluation of the phenomenon has seemed interesting. Files of 23 adult males and females examined at the Emergency Forensic Unit of an University Teaching Hospital near Paris were reviewed. All the victims had complained from sexual assault under drug submission, in the years 1996 and 1997. A complete examination for sexual assault was realised linked to clinical examination of drug intoxication. Every victim of rape under drug submission was sampled for urine screening (mean delay of 17.5 h after sexual assault) and blood alcohol level quantification. Urine was screened for benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates and cannabinoids with qualitative immunochromatographic test. Traumatic lesions of sexual penetration were retrieved in 10 victims and sperm in 5. Clinical signs of benzodiazepine intoxication were retrieved in 12 out of 23 victims. Urine benzodiazepine screening was positive, over the cut-off values (300 ng/mL)when sampled less than 20 h after the facts. In 6 out of 23 victims, drugs of abuse and alcohol were associated to benzodiazepines. A reinforced attention can be brought to the rape under drug submission including the need of a proper examination and samplings shortly after the alleged facts to ascertain the diagnosis and to help the victim facing the Justice inquiry.

Factors associated with suspected drug-facilitated sexual assault

“…The rate of suspected drugging in this study was higher than that reported in chart reviews of cases of sexual assault from similar specialized services in Victoria, Australia (17.5%), 7 Vancouver, Canada (12.1%), 1 Paris, France (6.3%), 8 and Minneapolis, United States (7.0%). 9 This difference may be related to the systematic and prospective collection of data in our study, our definition of drug-facilitated sexual assault and the year of our study.…”

“…1,[7][8][9] One such study demonstrated that the incidence of hospital-reported drug-facilitated sexual assault had shown a marked and continuing increase since 1999.…”

“…6 Rates of suspected drug-facilitated sexual assault derived from chart reviews of sexual assault victims presenting to specialized sexual assault services have ranged from 6.3% to 17.5%. 1,[7][8][9] One such study demonstrated that the incidence of hospital-reported drug-facilitated sexual assault had shown a marked and continuing increase since 1999. 10 Little is known about the victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault and how they may differ from victims of other forms of sexual assault.…”

A randomized clinical trial comparing doses and efficacy of lormetazepam tablets or oral solution for insomnia in a general practice setting

“…These features are important in order to avoid accidental poisoning by children for example (McIntire et al, 1976). Nevertheless, these preventive processes (including coloration of the solution), can not absolutely prevent the adjunction of the liquid solution in a glass of water, a process described in case reports of chemical submission (Marc et al, 2000;Bismuth et al, 1997).…”

Novel reductive–reductive mode electrochemical detection of Rohypnol following liquid chromatography and its determination in coffee

“…benzodiazepin-2-one, flunitrazepam) (I) has received a great deal of attention due its medical [1] and increased elicit usage [2][3][4][5][6][7]. It produces a variety of actions, including sedative effects, anxiolytic muscle-relaxation with a pronounced hypnotic effect and memory loss [8].…”