Drug-facilitated sexual assault in youth nightlife contexts in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to provide epidemiological information on drug-facilitated sexual assault in Spanish youth partying, with a focus on prevalence rates and associated sociodemographic factors. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Quota sampling was used to recruit 1601 young people aged 18-35 years in Spain from a digital panel. A validated questionnaire on drug-facilitated sexual assault was used to assess five types of lifetime victimisation experiences while partying. Chi-square and the exact Fisher tests were used to describe the prevalence of victimisation, drug use patterns, and perpetrator profiles. Generalised ordered logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with victimisation, analysed by gender. RESULTS: Half of young women and one-quarter of young men had experienced drug-facilitated sexual assault in their lifetime. Female victimisation due to touching and kissing was notably high, whereas men comprised almost half of the victims of more invasive DFSA experiences involving masturbation, penetration, and oral sex. Opportunism prevailed as the assault tactic, consisting of taking advantage of the victims' incapacity derived from voluntary alcohol use. Among women, risk of victimisation was associated with a lower education level, foreign-born status, and being non-heterosexual. Male victimisation risk was highest among non-heterosexual men. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-facilitated sexual violence in youth nightlife contexts is a serious public health issue in Spain, which requires urgent action. Most assaults involve taking advantage of victims who are incapacitated by the effects of voluntary alcohol consumption. This sexual violence primarily affects women with lower educational levels or those who are foreign-born and non-heterosexual men and women.

Presencia de sustancias psicoactivas en las víctimas de violencia sexual en la provincia de Alicante (España) durante los años 2016-2020 / Incidence of psychoactive substances in victims of sexual assaults in Alicante province (Spain) during the years 2016-2020

Introducción: el empleo de drogas psicoactivas para facilitar una agresión sexual ha adquirido gran relevancia en estos últimos años. El objetivo del presente trabajo es ayudar a visibilizar este tipo de situaciones, estableciendo los criterios diagnósticos y así poder determinar la incidencia real de este tipo de delitos. Material y métodos: se ha realizado un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de las víctimas de violencia sexual mediante el empleo de sustancias psicoactivas, atendidas por los médicos forenses del Instituto de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses de Alicante, en los años 2016 a 2020. Resultados: de los 702 casos estudiados de víctimas de violencia sexual, en 95 casos (13,5%) se cumplían los criterios de sospecha de sumisión química o delitos facilitados por sustancias psicoactivas. El perfil de la víctima es mujer (94,7%), de edad media 24,7 años. En la mayoría de los casos la violencia sexual fue cometida por un único agresor (80,6%), varón, conocido o recién conocido por la víctima y generalmente los hechos ocurrieron en fin de semana (54,8%). La víctima había consumido voluntariamente alcohol solo, o en combinación con drogas y/o medicamentos, inmediatamente antes de los hechos en la mayoría de los casos (88,5%). La situación de vulnerabilidad que genera este consumo puede ser aprovechado por el agresor para agredirla sexualmente (sumisión química oportunista). Los análisis químico-toxicológicos de las muestras analizadas en la sangre y la orina fueron positivos en un 85,3% de los casos. En casi la mitad de los casos fueron positivos a más de una sustancia (46,3%). Las más frecuentes encontradas fueron: alcohol (54,7%), cannabinoides (37,9%), benzodiacepinas (22,1%), cocaína (15,8%) y éxtasis (8,4%). En la mitad de los casos (50,5%), se obtuvieron hallazgos toxicológicos positivos inesperados de sustancias psicoactivas, que la víctima no admitía haber consumido voluntariamente.(AU)

Introduction: The use of psychoactive drugs to facilitate sexual assault has acquired great relevance in recent years. The objective of this work is to help make this type of situation visible, establishing diagnostic criteria and thus being able to determine the real incidence of this type of crime. Materials and methods: In order to determine the frequency and characteristics of victims of sexual assault with suspected chemical submission (SSQ), a retrospective descriptive study of sexual assaults facilitated by psychoactive substances has been carried out at the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Alicante in the years 2016-2020. Results: Among 702 cases studied, 95 (13.5%) met the criteria for inclusion in the probable DFSA (drug-facilitated sexual assault) group. The profile of the victim was a woman (95.4%) around 24 years old. In most cases, the sexual violence was committed by a single male aggressor, recently met or known by the victim, and generally these events happen on weekends. The victim had voluntarily consumed alcohol, drugs or psychotropic drugs immediately before the events in most cases (88,5%). This vulnerable state of the victim was used by the aggressor to sexually assault her (opportunistic DFSA). The toxicological analyses performed on blood and/or urine were positive in 85.3%. In almost half of them (46.3%), there was more than one substance found in the toxicological analyses. The most frequent substance found were: alcohol (54.7%), cannabinoids (37,9%), benzodiazepines (22.1%), cocaine (15.8%) and ecstasy or MDMA (8.4%). In half of the cases (50.5%), unexpected positive toxicological findings were obtained for psychoactive substances that the victim did not admit to having consumed voluntarily.(AU)

Sumisión química en los Servicios de Urgencias de la Red Hospitalaria / Chemical submission in the Emergency Services of the Hospital Network

Antecedentes y objetivos: la escopolamina se emplea de forma subrepticia para cometer actos ilícitos. El número de casos de sospecha de consumo de esta sustancia en los servicios sanitarios de urgencias parece haber aumentado en los últimos años. No existe una clara y rigurosa relación con el número de casos descritos en la literatura científica, debido a la dificultad que supone su detección en los sujetos que se encuentran bajo sus efectos. Se plantea la profundización sobre la sumisión química, al describirse un caso clínico registrado en el Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital Central de la Defensa Gómez Ulla y una mejora del abordaje de este tipo de casos desde el triaje. Material y método: el estudio del caso registrado se ha basado en la descripción del método de detección analítico de la escopolamina y se ha apoyado en una revisión bibliográfica empleando distintas bases especializadas en referencia a intoxicación por escopolamina y su empleo en actos delictivos. Resultados: se identificó escopolamina. Al ser una sustancia cuya detección es tiempo-dependiente, el Hospital Central de la Defensa Gómez Ulla estableció un protocolo junto con el Instituto de Toxicología de la Defensa en 2018, a fin de realizar analíticas de identificación de sustancias empleadas en los casos de sospecha de sumisión química. Conclusiones: se plantea la necesidad de establecer protocolos de tipo multidisciplinar adecuados en los servicios de urgencias, estableciendo un diagnóstico diferencial en casos con alteraciones en el nivel de consciencia, al existir la posibilidad de intoxicación por escopolamina y sospecha de sumisión química, ya que la detección de la sustancia es tiempo-dependiente. (AU)

Antecedents and objectives: Scopolamine is used to commit illegal acts. The number of suspected cases of this substance in the Emergency Services seems to have increased in recent years. There is no clear and rigorous relationship with the number of cases described in the scientific literature, due to the difficulty of its detection in subjects who are under its effects. A further study on Chemical Submission is proposed, by describing a clinical case registered in the Emergency Service of the Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital and an improvement in the approach to this type of cases from triage. Material and methods: The study of the registered case has been based on the description of the analytical method and supported by a bibliographic review using different specialized bases in reference to Escopolamine poisoning and its use in criminal acts. Results: Being a substance whose detection is time-dependent, the Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital established a protocol together with the Defense Toxicology Institute in 2018 in order to carry out identification analyzes of substances used in cases of Suspected Submission Chemistry. Conclusions: The need to establish appropriate multidisciplinary protocols in the Emergency Services arises. Propose a differential diagnosis in cases with alterations in the level of consciousness, as there is the possibility of scopolamine intoxication and suspicion of Chemical Submission, since the detection of the substance is time-dependent. (AU)

An approximation to the identification of contexts, experiences, and profiles of victims of drug-facilitated sexual assaults.

This study advances on overcoming a bias limiting the forensic cases studies of drug-facilitated sexual assaults: a narrow study focus, restricted to assaults affecting young women in leisure contexts related to nightlife, party culture, and dating. A new working framework is applied to analyse data from cases received in the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences (Madrid, Spain) over the six years between 2012 and 2017. The work throws light on non-previously described contexts, experiences, and profiles of victims, including domestic cohabitation, labour, education, healthcare, women trafficking, and the daily life of people with intellectual disabilities.

Sumisión química por «burundanga» o escopolamina / Drug facilitated crimes by «burundanga» or scopolamine

Introducción: la burundanga o brebaje con escopolamina ha acaparado gran notoriedad en los casos de sumisión química (SQ). El Hospital Clínico San Carlos (HCSC) dispone de una guía de práctica clínica ante la sospecha de SQ. El análisis toxicológico (AT) se realiza en el Instituto Nacional de Toxicología y Ciencias Forenses (INTCF) de Madrid.Objetivoanalizar los casos de sospecha de SQ en el HCSC con detección de la escopolamina en el AT.Métodosestudio observacional retrospectivo de casos registrados como posible SQ en el HCSC con presencia de la escopolamina identificada en el AT entre marzo de 2015 y marzo de 2021.Resultadosen solo uno de 292 (0,3%) registros en el HCSC se identificó escopolamina (128,2 ng/ml) en la orina mediante técnicas de cromatografía de líquidos acoplada a la espectrometría de masas. Un varón de 34 años fue atendido en urgencias por síntomas anticolinérgicos, refiriendo un delito contra la propiedad.Conclusionesla escopolamina es una sustancia identificada de manera excepcional en casos de sospecha de SQ en el HCSC. (AU)

Introduction: Burundanga or potion with scopolamine is a substance that has gained great notoriety in cases of drug facilitated crimes (DFC). San Carlos Clinical Hospital (SCCH) has a clinical practice guide in suspected DFC. The toxicological analysis (TA) is carried out at the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences (INTCF) in Madrid.ObjectiveTo analyze cases of suspicion of DFC due to scopolamine in SCCH.MethodsRetrospective observational study of cases registered as possible SQ in the HCSC with scopolamine identified in the toxicological analysis (TA) between March 2015 and 2021.ResultsIn only 1 of 292 (0.3%) records in the SCCH were identified scopolamine (128,2 ng/ml) in urine using liquid chromatography techniques coupled with mass spectrometry. A 34-year-old man was referred to the emergency room for anticholinergic symptoms, referring to a crime against property.ConclusionsScopolamine is a substance identified in an exceptional way in cases of suspected SQ in SCCH. (AU)

Sumisión química en casos de presuntos delitos contra la libertad sexual 2016-2018, Lima, Perú / Chemical submission in cases of alleged crimes against sexual freedom 2016-2018, Lima, Peru

Introducción: La sumisión química es el uso de sustancias químicas con el fin de manipular la voluntad en las personas produciendo una incapacidad o inconsciencia que facilita la acción criminal, por lo que han tomado un gran protagonismo en los últimos años, debido al uso frecuente en los casos de presuntos delitos contra la libertad sexual.Materiales y métodosSe ha realizado un estudio observacional descriptivo-retrospectivo de casos de presuntos delitos contra la libertad sexual ejercidos mediante sustancias químicas, con el fin de determinar el perfil de las víctimas según las muestras analizadas y las sustancias detectadas en los años 2016, 2017 y 2018, que han sido registrados en la Dirección de Criminalística (DIRCRI) de la Policía Nacional del Perú (PNP).ResultadosDe los 1841 casos de delito contra la libertad sexual, 445 (24,17±2%) cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. El perfil de la víctima es de una mujer limeña joven con una edad media de 22,56±1,14 años. La procedencia de casos fue San Juan de Lurigancho (10,56±2,9%). Las muestras remitidas han sido orina (62,47±4,5%), y en conjunto con el sarro ungueal (37,53±4,5%). El análisis toxicológico de los casos probables han sido sustancias identificadas como psicofármacos (57,53±4,6%, fundamentalmente benzodiacepinas), etanol (26,29±4,1%), y drogas ilícitas (11,24±2,9%, fundamentalmente marihuana y cocaína), solas o en combinación.ConclusionesEl estudio demostró que el 24,17±2% fueron casos probables de mujeres limeñas, agredidas sexualmente bajo efectos de sustancias químicas, predominando el distrito de San Juan de Lurigancho con el 10,56±2,9%, cuya mayoría de muestras analizadas fueron a partir de la orina con el 62,47±4,5%; el grupo de sustancias en el que más prevalencia se obtuvo fueron los psicofármacos con 57,53±4,6%, siendo las benzodiacepinas los únicos subgrupos que fueron registrados. (AU)

Introduction: Chemical submission is the use of chemical substances to manipulate the will of a person, producing incapacity or unconsciousness that facilitates criminal action. It has gained in prominence in recent years, due to its frequent use in cases of alleged crimes against sexual freedom.Materials and methodsAn observational descriptive-retrospective study of cases of alleged crimes against sexual freedom committed using chemical substances was carried out, to determine the profile of the victims according to the samples analysed and the substances detected in 2016, 2017 and 2018,registered with the Criminalistics Directorate (DIRCRI) of the Peruvian National Police (PNP).ResultsOf the 1841 cases of crime against sexual freedom, 445 (24.17%±2%) met the inclusion criteria. The victim's profile is that of a young (Lima) woman (mean age: 22.56±1.14 years). The cases were from San Juan de Lurigancho (10.56%±2.9%). The samples submitted were urine (62.47%±4.5%), and urine and nail plaque (37.53%±4.5%). The toxicological analysis of probable cases showed substances identified as psychotropic drugs (57.53%±4.6%, mainly benzodiazepines), ethanol (26.29%±4.1%), and illicit drugs (11.24%±2.9%, mainly marijuana and cocaine), alone or in combination.ConclusionsThe study showed that 24.17%±2% were probable cases of Lima women who had been sexually assaulted under the influence of chemical substances, predominantly in the district of San Juan de Lurigancho at 10.56%±2.9%, most of the samples analysed were urine with 62.47%±4.5%; the most prevalent group of substances were psychotropic drugs at 57.53%±4.6%, with benzodiazepines being the only subgroups that were recorded. (AU)

[Suspicion of chemical submission in older subjects attending a hospital emergency department]. / Sospecha de sumisión química en sujetos mayores atendidos en un servicio de urgencias hospitalario.

Chemical Submission (CS) is considered a danger to health and a form of violence. There are different forms of proactive CS (involuntary consumption of psychoactive substances) and opportunistic CS (voluntary consumption), with criminal intent, usually theft, submission, or sexual assault. The objective of this work is to describe the characteristics of cases of suspected CS in adults older than 65 years treated in the Emergency Department of the San Carlos Clinical Hospital and the results of the toxicological analysis performed by the INTCF in Madrid (April 1, 2015-2019). There were 12 (8%) cases of suspected CS, with a mean age of 75 (SD 8) years, of which 8 (66.7%) men, with two different profiles, all associated with theft, and in 3 (25%) possible sexual assault. In 9 (75%) cases, benzodiazepines and / or usual drugs were identified. CS is a problem to consider in Emergency Departments and is not exclusive to the young population.

Validación de un método rápido en orina por lC/MS/MS para la búsqueda de compuestos empleados en sumisión química y su aplicación a muestras reales / Validation of a fast screening method in urine by lC/MS/MS for compounds used in drug-facilitated crime (DFC) and its application to real samples

La Oficina de Naciones Unidas contra la Droga y el Delito (UNODC) en 2011 señala que "El delito facilitado por drogas (DFD) es una expresión general que abarca la violación y otras agresiones sexuales, el robo con violencia o intimidación, la extorsión de dinero y los malos tratos deliberados de ancianos o niños bajo la influencia de sustancias sicotrópicas". En este trabajo se validó un método cualitativo y rápido a partir de muestras de orina por LC/MS/MS para 39 compuestos comprendidos en los listados de sumisión química. El objetivo fue alcanzar un límite de detección un 50 % por debajo de la concentración propuesta como "Límites mínimos de funcionamiento exigidos (MRPL)" por la UNODC, para poder ser aplicado a muestras reales.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2011, states that "The Drug-facilitated crime (DFC) is a general term that includes rape or other sexual assault, robbery, money extortion, as well as the deliberate maltreatment of the elderly or children under the influence of psychotropic substances". In this work we validated a qualitative and fast method from urine samples by LC/MS/MS for 39 compounds included in the Drug-facilitated crime lists. The aim was to reach a detection limit of 50% below the proposed concentration as "minimum required performance limits (MRPL)" by UNODC in order to be applied in real samples.

[A prospective study of drug-facilitated sexual assault in Barcelona]. / Estudio prospectivo de la sumisión química con finalidad sexual en Barcelona.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and characteristics of suspected drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) among the victims of sexual assault in Barcelona. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study of every adult consulting an emergency service because of alleged sexual assault and receiving forensic assessment in the city of Barcelona in 2011. RESULTS: A total of 35 of 114 cases (30.7%) met suspected DFSA criteria. Compared with the other victims, suspected DFSA cases were more likely to experience amnesia, to have been assaulted by night, after a social situation and by a recently acquainted man, to have used alcohol before the assault and to be foreigners. In this group ethanol was detected in blood or urine in 48.4% of analyzed cases; their mean back calculated blood alcohol concentration was 2.29g/l (SD 0.685). Also, at least one central nervous system drug other than ethanol was detected in 60,6%, mainly stimulant drugs of abuse. CONCLUSIONS: Suspected DFSA is frequent among victims of alleged sexual assault in Barcelona nowadays. The depressor substance most commonly encountered is alcohol, which contributes to victims' vulnerability.