TY - JOUR

T1 - Uncovering forensic evidence of drug-facilitated sexual assault

T2 - Toxicological findings from Eastern Denmark from 2015–2022

AU - Skov, Kathrine

AU - Johansen, Sys Stybe

AU - Linnet, Kristian

AU - Klose Nielsen, Marie Katrine

N1 - Funding Information: This product is financially supported by the Danish Victims Fund (grant number 20-610-0092). The author is responsible for the execution, content, and results of the product. Assessments and views that appear in the product belongs to the author and is not necessarily shared by the Council of the Danish Victims Fund. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - In drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA), the victim is unable to provide consent or resists sexual activity due to substance intoxication by voluntary or covert consumption. Obtaining forensic evidence of the assault is challenged by rapid drug metabolism and late sample collection. The objective of this study was to present toxicological findings and associated demographics from police reported sexual assault cases in Eastern Denmark from 2015 to 2022. A total of 369 sexual assault cases were submitted for analysis and a subgroup of 268 cases were categorized as suspected DFSA cases. The majority of the total sexual assault victims were women at the age 15–25 and the perpetrators were often unknown or an acquaintance. Time from assault to sample collection was slightly longer for suspected DFSA cases (12–24 h) compared to non-DFSA (<12 h). Positive toxicology was observed in 86 % of cases and the most common drug groups included alcohol (45 %), drugs of abuse (38 %), antidepressants (14 %), antihistamines (12 %), and benzodiazepines (11 %). Hypnotics were detected to a smaller extent (7 %). A total of 77 drugs were detected and the most commonly observed were cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cetirizine, amphetamine, diazepam and sertraline. The high level of observed alcohol and drugs of abuse indicated that most DFSA cases in Eastern Denmark were of an opportunistic approach rather than proactive.

AB - In drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA), the victim is unable to provide consent or resists sexual activity due to substance intoxication by voluntary or covert consumption. Obtaining forensic evidence of the assault is challenged by rapid drug metabolism and late sample collection. The objective of this study was to present toxicological findings and associated demographics from police reported sexual assault cases in Eastern Denmark from 2015 to 2022. A total of 369 sexual assault cases were submitted for analysis and a subgroup of 268 cases were categorized as suspected DFSA cases. The majority of the total sexual assault victims were women at the age 15–25 and the perpetrators were often unknown or an acquaintance. Time from assault to sample collection was slightly longer for suspected DFSA cases (12–24 h) compared to non-DFSA (<12 h). Positive toxicology was observed in 86 % of cases and the most common drug groups included alcohol (45 %), drugs of abuse (38 %), antidepressants (14 %), antihistamines (12 %), and benzodiazepines (11 %). Hypnotics were detected to a smaller extent (7 %). A total of 77 drugs were detected and the most commonly observed were cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cetirizine, amphetamine, diazepam and sertraline. The high level of observed alcohol and drugs of abuse indicated that most DFSA cases in Eastern Denmark were of an opportunistic approach rather than proactive.

KW - Blood

KW - DFSA

KW - Hair

KW - Retrospective drug survey

KW - Toxicology

KW - Urine

U2 - 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102325

DO - 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102325

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37783000

AN - SCOPUS:85172811612

VL - 65

JO - Legal Medicine

JF - Legal Medicine

SN - 1344-6223

M1 - 102325

ER -