Analytical protocol for the screening of psychotropic/incapacitating drugs in alleged drug-facilitated crimes

Sexual Assault: Approach to Reality in the Area of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia, Spain) through a 12-Year Retrospective Study

Sexual assault constitutes a severely traumatic experience that impacts the lives of far too many victims each year. The underlying behaviors of the offenders are often associated with psychological, physical and social distress, and the use of psychotropic substances was found in a good number of cases. A descriptive and retrospective review of sexual assault cases has been undertaken to identify trends in the toxicology findings in Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault in Santiago de Compostela over the past 12 years. During this period, a total of 69 cases were referred to the Forensic Toxicology Service as sexual assault cases. The sex and age distribution of the cases showed that females between the ages of 14 and 65 years constituted the group most frequently submitted to sexual assault, with a peak of 55.1% in the 18- to 30-year age group. Alcohol consumption was positive in 77.1% of positive cases determined, followed by drugs (34.4%) and illicit drugs (26.2%). Our results showed a high percentage of alcohol consumption in sexual assault cases.

Analysis of conventional and nonconventional forensic specimens in drug-facilitated sexual assault by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

The incidence of drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) has dramatically increased in the last decades. Forensic analytical scientists continuously seek new methods and specimens to prove the incidence of intoxication for the judiciary system. Factors influencing sample selection include the ease of obtaining the samples and the window of detection of the drugs, among others. Both conventional (blood, urine) and non-conventional specimens (hair, nails, fluids) have been proposed as suitable in DFSA cases. Reported sample treatments include a variety of liquid-liquid and solid-phase extraction as well as dilute-and-shoot procedures and microextraction techniques. Regarding analysis, liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has emerged as the preferred confirmatory technique, due to its sensitivity, selectivity, and wide-scope applicability. In this review, we critically discuss the most common specimens and sample treatments/analysis procedures (related to LC-MS/MS) that have been reported during the last ten years. As a final goal, we intend to provide a critical overview and suggest analytical recommendations for the establishment of suitable analytical strategies in DFSA cases.

The Evolution Toward Designer Benzodiazepines in Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault Cases

Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) is a crime where the victim is unable to provide sexual consent due to incapacitation resulting from alcohol or drug consumption. Due to the large number of substances possibly used in DFSA, including illicit, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, DFSA faces many toxicological challenges. Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are ideal candidates for DFSA, as they are active at low doses, have a fast onset of action and can be easily administered orally. The last decade has seen the emergence of designer benzodiazepines (DBZDs), which show slight modifications compared with BZDs and similar pharmacological effects but are not controlled under the international drug control system. DBZDs represent an additional challenge due to the number of new entities regularly appearing in the market, their possibly higher potency and the limited knowledge available on their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics properties. Many BZDs and DBZDs have a short half-life, leading to rapid metabolism and excretion. The low concentrations and short time windows for the detection of BZD in body fluids require the use of highly sensitive analysis methods to enable the detection of drugs and their respective metabolites. This review discusses the current state of the toxicological analysis of BZDs and DBZDs in forensic casework and their pharmacokinetic properties (i.e., absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination), as well as their analysis in biosamples typically encountered in DFSA (i.e., blood, urine and hair).

Long-Term Detection In Hair Of Zolpidem, Oxazepam And Flunitrazepam In A Case Of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases are pretty common in forensic toxicology. In this case report, a 56-year-old female tourist claimed to have been sexually assaulted by five men after having had a drug-spiked alcoholic drink. Urine samples were collected at 38, 44, and 45 hours after the alleged rape. After 7 months, hair strands (28 cm in length) were also sampled to perform the segmental hair testing. Urine and decontaminated hair segments were tested for different groups of basic, acid, and neutral substances (GHB, Z-drugs, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, hypnotics, antipsychotics, drugs of abuse). GC/MS and LC-MS/MS methods were applied for the qualitative and quantitative analyses. Toxicological analyses performed on urine samples gave inconclusive findings. Zolpidem, flunitrazepam, and oxazepam were detected in the hair segments corresponding to the time frame of the alleged assault. Endogenous levels of GHB were detected along the hair shaft. No drugs were detected in the proximal and distal hair segments or in washing solutions. This DFSA case demonstrated that the segmental toxicological analysis of hair, even when performed 7 months after the sexual assault, can provide evidence consistent in a single exposure to psychoactive drugs, at the time of the offence.