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Abstract
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Introduction: The use of medical and other drugs to facilitate the commission of robberies, rape and murders has a long history. Many of these substances are capable of causing a transient alteration in consciousness and may even provoke coma: the victim is often left suffering from amnesia. The products most-frequently involved include ethyl alcohol, benzodiazepines, antihistamines, neuroleptics and gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB or liquid ecstasy).
Method: During 2008, blood and urine samples were collected for toxicological analysis from people attended by the emergency department of our hospital who stated having been the victim of sexual aggression carried out under the effects of an unknowingly-administered substance.
Results: A total of 170 presumed victims of sexual aggression were initially included: the mean age was 25 years and 96% were female. Of these, 30 (18%) believed that a consciousness-altering or defence-lowering substance had been administered to them without consent. Toxicological analyses were positive in 50% of the cases. The most-frequently detected substances were ethyl alcohol, cocaine, benzodiazepines, cannabis and opiates, either alone or in various combinations; no case of scopolamine (burundanga) was found. The characteristics of the study did not allow us to confirm whether consumption was voluntary or involuntary. All information was made available to the competent legal authorities to complete the investigation of each case.
Conclusions: Alcohol, benzodiazepines or other drugs of abuse were detected in 50% of patients believing themselves to be victims of sexual assault under the effects of toxic substances. It could not be determined whether consumption was voluntary or involuntary. Toxicological analysis showed no case involving scopolamine or GHB, the latter of which has been detected in patients attended by our hospital for the same reasons in the past. |