TY - JOUR

T1 - The involvement of drugs and alcohol in drug-facilitated sexual assault

T2 - a systematic review of the evidence

AU - Beynon, Caryl M

AU - McVeigh, Clare

AU - McVeigh, Jim

AU - Leavey, Conan

AU - Bellis, Mark A

PY - 2008/7

Y1 - 2008/7

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Alcohol-Related Disorders

KW - Central Nervous System Depressants

KW - Evidence-Based Medicine

KW - Female

KW - Forensic Medicine

KW - Humans

KW - Hypnotics and Sedatives

KW - Male

KW - Rape

KW - Research Design

KW - Sex Offenses

KW - Street Drugs

KW - Substance Abuse Detection

KW - Substance-Related Disorders

KW - United Kingdom

KW - United States

KW - Journal Article

KW - Review

U2 - 10.1177/1524838008320221

DO - 10.1177/1524838008320221

M3 - Review article

C2 - 18541699

VL - 9

SP - 178

EP - 188

JO - Trauma, violence & abuse

JF - Trauma, violence & abuse

SN - 1524-8380

IS - 3

ER -