The Involvement of Drugs and Alcohol in Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

Abstract

The rate of drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA; when an incapacitating drug is administered surreptitiously to facilitate sexual assault) is perceived to be increasing in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, causing international concern. This article examines evidence that quantifies the contribution of drugs in instances of alleged DFSA, identifies the substances involved, and discusses the implications of these findings. Of 389 studies examined, 11 were included in this review. The only study to consider covert drugging reported that 2% of alleged DFSA cases were attributable to surreptitious drug administration. Other studies failed to remove voluntary drug consumption from their cohort, biasing results. A study by the United Kingdom's National Forensic Services found no evidence to suggest that flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) had been used for DFSA during its 3-year investigation. In the United States, flunitrazepam is used recreationally, providing a likely explanation for its presence in samples of some alleged DFSA victims.

Care of the Adolescent After an Acute Sexual Assault

“…35,36 Unexpected (ie, no known history of drug exposure to the specific drug) positive toxicology results were found in 49% of the suspected DFSA cases; results showed cannabinoids (40%) and cocaine (32%) most frequently. Similar individual studies and systematic reviews 37 from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries have reported that less than 2% of cases of DFSA are associated with common date rape drugs. 34 -36, 38 -43 There may be a greater index of suspicion for such use in geographic areas where flunitrazepam and similar drugs are legal or more accessible (eg, Mexico and near border areas).…”

Número Completo/Full Number

“…Son medicamentos -benzodiazepinas (flunitrazepan, lorazepan…) hipnóticos (zopiclona, zolpiden…), neurolépticos, sedantes o anestésicos-utilizados como DFAS y que normalmente son diluidos en la bebida alcohólica de la víctima que las acaba ingiriendo de forma involuntaria provocándole somnolencia, quedando la víctima en total estado de inconsciencia (Beynon et al, 2008;Jones et al, 2012).…”

“…Los datos disponibles hasta la fecha sugieren que la SQ sigue siendo un fenómeno relativamente infrecuente y de características criminológicas propias (Beynon et al, 2008 No debemos olvidar que el 100% de los casos de violencia sexual con violencia y en al menos 2/3 partes de los demás casos, se evidencian reacciones emocionales considerables, especialmente miedo, depresión y rabia que llevan a estas mujeres a presentar cambios significativos en sus estilos de vida (Shapland, 1990).…”

Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault and That the Problems in Turkey

“…Bu faktörler sonucu toplumda İKCS vakalarının yaygın olduğu kanısı uyanmaktadır. Ancak asıl tehlike İKCS olduğu iddia edilen vakalarda gönüllü ilaç tüketiminin çok büyük baskınlığının olduğunu göz ardı etmektir [57]. GABA merkezi sinir sisteminin (MSS) primer inhibitör nörotrans-mitter maddesidir.…”