TOXICOLOGICALINVESTIGATIONS IN DRUG-FACILITATED SEXUAL ASSAULT

ABSTRACT: We present a general overview of the drug-facilitated sexual assault phenomenon in the United States sexual abuse of both women and men, while under the influence of so-called “date-rape ” drugs, has been the focus of many investiga-tions. Throughout the 1990s, an alarming increase in anecdotal reports of this crime as well as in the number of scientific publications on drug-facilitated sexual assault has been observed. Reported “date-rape ” drugs include flunitrazepam with other benzodiazepines such as diazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, oxazepam, and also GHB, ketamine, scopolamine, and many others. We describe the most recent analyti-cal developments in the toxicological investigation of drug-facilitated rape to confirm the presence of the drug and to help successfully prosecute the perpetrator. KEY WORDS: Date-rape; Date-rape drugs; Drug-facilitated sexual assault; Foren