An estimate of the proportion of drug-facilitation of sexual assault in four U.S. localities.
In recent years, drugs including flunitrazepam, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, ketamine, and ethanol, have become popularly associated with drug-facilitated sexual assault. Other drugs are also candidates as factors in "drug facilitated sexual assault" (DFSA). The true extent of DFSA is not known, and is difficult to estimate. We recruited sexual assault complainants at four clinics in different parts of the U.S. to anonymously provide urine and hair specimens, and to answer questions about suspected drugging, drug use, and the sexual assault incident. Urine and hair specimens were tested for 45 drugs, including ethanol, and those pharmacologically capable of inducing sedation, amnesia, or impairment of judgment. Analytical test results were used to estimate the proportion of subjects, and the proportion of all complainants to the clinic in the same time period, who were victims of DFSA. Overall, cases of 43% of 144 subjects, and 7% of 859 complainants, were characterized as DFSA. Subjects underreported their use of drugs. The role of toxicological results and history in characterizing DFSA cases is discussed.
Juhascik
Matthew P
MP
Forensic Science Group, Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Negrusz
Adam
A
Faugno
Diana
D
Ledray
Linda
L
Greene
Pam
P
Lindner
Alice
A
Haner
Barbara
B
Gaensslen
R E
RE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000032:analysis; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000032:analysis; D003042:Cocaine / Q000032:analysis; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis; D004319:Doxylamine / Q000032:analysis; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000032:analysis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000032:analysis; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D004091:Hydromorphone / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009294:Narcotics / Q000032:analysis; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000032:analysis; D010076:Oxazepam / Q000032:analysis; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000032:analysis; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000032:analysis; D012742:Sex Offenses; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D014481:United States
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D009294:Narcotics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D000639:Amitriptyline; D000431:Ethanol; D005445:Flunitrazepam; D010076:Oxazepam; D013759:Dronabinol; D004319:Doxylamine; D009661:Nortriptyline; D010098:Oxycodone; D003042:Cocaine; D004091:Hydromorphone