title: Factors associated with suspected drug-facilitated sexual assault.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been little systematic investigation of widespread reports of drugging and sexual assault. We sought to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with suspected drug-facilitated sexual assault.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2005 and March 2007, a total of 977 consecutive sexual assault victims underwent screening for suspected drugging at 7 hospital-based sexual assault treatment centres. We defined victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault as those who presented to a centre within about 72 hours of being assaulted and who provided at least 1 valid reason for suspecting that she or he had been drugged and sexually assaulted. We used logistic regression modelling to compare victims of suspected drug-facilitated sexual assault with other sexual assault victims, controlling for covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 882 victims were eligible for inclusion in the study. Of these, 855 (96.9%) were women, and 184 (20.9%) met the criteria for suspected drug-facilitated sexual assault. Compared with other victims, victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault were more likely to have presented to a large urban centre for care (odds ratio [OR] 2.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.47-3.65), to be employed (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.34-2.76), to have consumed over-the-counter medications (OR 3.97, 95% CI 2.47-6.38) and street drugs (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.12-2.62) in the 72 hours before being examined and to have used alcohol before the assault (OR 4.00, 95% CI 2.53-6.32).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suspected drug-facilitated sexual assault is a common problem. Sexual assault services should be tailored to meet the needs of those experiencing this type of victimization.
authors.affiliation: Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du Mont
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: Nomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rotbard
authors.forename: Eriola
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Asllani
authors.forename: Deidre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bainbridge
authors.forename: Marsha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011902:Rape / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*