Involvement of Drugs and Alcohol in Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

• NCJ Number: 223280
• Journal: Trauma, Violence, & Abuse: A Review Journal Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2008 Pages: 178-188
• Author(s): Caryl M. Beynon; Clare McVeigh; Jim McVeigh; Conan Leavey; Mark A. Bellis
• Date Published: July 2008
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This literature review examined research on the prevalence of the use of drugs in facilitating sexual assault (DFSA), as well as the drugs involved.

Abstract

The only robust estimate in the research literature was that only 2 percent of alleged DFSAs were proven to be due to covert drug administration by the perpetrator to the victim. Other reviewed research failed to exclude voluntary drug and/or alcohol consumption by victims from their cohort, and their estimates were biased. Such voluntary drug and/or alcohol consumption increased the risk of being the victim of a sexual assault. This review concludes that scientific reports are drawing misleading conclusions about the prevalence of DFSAs, thus inflating public concern about the frequency of covert drug administration for the purpose of committing sexual assaults. The United Kingdom's National Forensic Services has concluded that there has been no evidence to suggest that flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) had been used for drug-facilitated sexual assaults in the United Kingdom during the period of its 3-year study. Research is needed to confirm or refute the finding that only 2 percent of alleged DFSAs are due to covert drug administration. This should include the investigation of the possibility that DFSA is underreported. Forensic examinations should consider whether the drugs detected in toxicological investigations of alleged sexual assault victims are actually able to cause sedation. Such investigation must also eliminate the possibility of the drugs having been consumed by the victim voluntarily. Health-care and criminal-justice sexual assault prevention strategies should focus on the risk of sexual assault in the context of voluntary alcohol and drug consumption, which is apparently more likely than a sexual assault facilitated by covert drug administration by the perpetrator. Out of 389 studies examined, 11 were deemed relevant to this review. 1 table and 49 references