title: Detection of synthetic cathinones in victims of sexual assault.
abstract: Drug facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) can be defined as sexual activity occurring whereby the victim is incapacitated by drugs and/or alcohol and thereby unable to consent. A new wave of designer drugs is emerging in the community at large and one group, the synthetic cathinones, is described in this study. Analyzing urine samples from reported sexual assaults submitted to the University of Miami Toxicology Lab in 2013 determined that methylone has become a popular drug encountered in these cases. Derivatization of these synthetic cathinones enabled a validated a qualitative method to identify ten different designer drugs. Of the forty-five sexual assault samples submitted, 13% were positive for synthetic cathinones without any toxicological finding of ethanol, GHB or ketamine. This study illustrates the recent correlation of drug-facilitated sexual assaults and the use of synthetic cathinones.
authors: University of Miami, Department Pathology, University of Miami Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, United States. Electronic address: kiahagan@umail.iu.edu.
authors: Kiara S
authors: KS
authors: Hagan
authors: University of Miami, Department Pathology, University of Miami Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, United States. Electronic address: LReidy@med.miami.edu.
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Reidy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000652:urine*; D019548:Crime Victims; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000652:urine*; D012742:Sex Offenses; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D015198:Designer Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; C023665:cathinone
keywords: Drug-facilitated sexual assault; ELISA; Forensic science; Forensic toxicology; GC–MS; Synthetic cathinones