Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

1. Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault – MCASA 2007

2. Objectives • Define Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) • List possible Date Rape drugs • Identify possible DFSA Cases • Develop DFSA Investigation strategies

3. “I had two drinks, but then I blacked out. That has never happened to me”

4. A May 2006 study found… • Almost 62 percent of sexual assaults were found to be drug facilitated, • and almost 5 percent of the victims were given classic 'date-rape' drugs

5. Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault • Relatively new term • Definitely not a new issue • Original and ongoing drug of choice: • alcohol

6. Defined • Victims is subjected to non-consensual sexual act(s) while incapacitated by alcohol and/or drugs • Effect of the substance(s) prevents resistance and ability to consent • Prevalence is not known

7. Perpetrators • Myth: it is only Stranger in the club or singles bar • Reality is: • Perpetrator could be a date or a trusted “friend” • Health care provider in a medical setting • Could be a neighbor

8. Common Occurrences • In some cases the substances are taken voluntarily by the victims, impairing their ability to make decisions • It is so common for boys/men to encourage a woman to drink heavily in order to “hit that”; many people do not recognize this as a crime

9. In other cases the substances are given to the victims without their knowledge, which may decrease their ability to identify a dangerous situation or to resist the perpetrator. • They can even make it seem as though the victim is consenting, ie. allowing the sexual advances of their attacker.

10. Planning • Many, many repeat offenders – WHY? • Drugs used often cause rapid loss of ability to walk – implications if you are the perp? • Plan the assault very near the location of the drugging • Target someone who can be easily “carried” home – The Rescuer, the helper

11. Sometimes • Perpetrators take “trophies” • May video tape, photograph the act • Most times the act is planned • Shows little remorse • Denies he did anything wrong; or may be remorseful with victim afterward • May be more than one perpetrator • Younger perps/college settings

12. Profile • Are these perpetrators generally organized or disorganized? • High functioning • Grandiose, self-absorbed • Narcissistic • Appear to be functioning well • Two groups • College students • Men > 30 years of age • Often single (never married or divorced)

13. One Modus operandi • Good verbal social skills • Charming • Can quickly establish “trust” • “Wine and dine” • In the morning, dares her to tell someone • Victim may have voluntarily consumed to some type of illicit drug use

14. Modus operandi • Usually not psychiatrically ill • Usually not drunk or stoned • Very much in control of the situation • Usually not violent, • Often makes NO effort to hide identity

15. Modus operandi • Perpetrators may live out their fantasies • Anal sex • Ejaculate onto victim’s face, into the mouth • Shave the victim • Dress the victim up in “special” clothes

16. DFSA v Coercive Rapist • General lack of violence • Clothes not torn off • No mutilation • No threats prior to the rape – maybe a threat afterwards that no one will believe her • DFSA have superb verbal skills

17. Two Common Presentations • Complete “loss of consciousness” • I passed out…I was gone. He could have sawed me in half and I would not know it • Fragmented memory – brief, intermittent periods of visual and/or auditory memories • I was awake some of the time but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t talk

18. Victim Interview • Victim may remember little or nothing. • There may be many “holes” in the story • Their uncertainty may cause extreme anxiety

19. Victim Interviews • Keep in mind: • a victim whose memory is impaired due to the pharmacological effect of a drug, may innocently and unconsciously seek facts to fill in the gaps in her memory. • Avoid suggestive questioning • It is very important to have the victim articulate how they felt or what they had been doing prior to losing consciousness.

20. Common Presentation • memory loss, dizziness, confusion, • drowsiness, slurred speech, impaired motor skills, impaired judgment, reduced inhibition • variety of other symptoms. The victim may also appear intoxicated or "hung-over".

21. Witness Statements • Although the victim statement is crucial to the investigation, persons who saw the victim, or spoke to the victim, before, during and after the assault are critical witnesses. • Often, it is such witnesses who establish time frames, notice unusual behavior, provide critical facts and can identify potential sources of information.

22. Potential Evidence • drugs, ingredients used to make drugs, • drug-related literature and recipes, • Internet correspondence, • Drug packaging and bottles, • photographs and video tapes of victims -- might be located in the suspect's residence, vehicle, place of employment, locker, etc.

23. Common DFSA Drugs

24. Alcohol • CNS depressant • Depresses all body functions • Easily tested and found in blood • Have to have high concentration to get the desired effect

25. Alcohol mixed with other Drugs • DFSA cases • Barbituates • Benzodiazepines • Antihistamines • Tricyclic antidepressants • Marijuana • GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) • Narcotics

26. Benzodiazepines • Around since the 1950s • Librium chlordiazepoxide • Xanax alprazolam • Tranxene clorazepate • Valium diazapam • Dalmane flurazepam • Halcion triazolam • Restoril temazepam

27. Rohypnol • Rohypnol – flunitrazepam • Ten times more potent than diazapam • Marketed legally since 1970s in Europe, South America and Asia • Never submitted the FDA for approval in the United States

28. Rohypnol • Roofies • R • Date rape drug • LaRocha (Hoffman – LaRoche)

29. Rohypnol • Half-life is one day • Clinical effects are much shorter • Fast acting drug • Kicks in within an hour • Clinical effects several hours • Strong AMNESIA effect

30. Rohypnol • Can be found in blood and urine • 1999 study: Of 1033 samples only six had flunitrazapam • While 40% had alcohol • Several hot spots in the country • Florida • Minneapolis • Southern California

31. GHB • gamma-hydroxybutyric acid • Used clinically as an anesthetic and hypnotic agent since 1960s • GHB can be readily synthesized in your home

32. GHB • Often an off-white powder • Colorless liquid • Mild caramel odor • Used by Body Builders • Used voluntarily for a euphoric high

33. GHB • Internet recipes • GBL (industrial solvent) and sodium hydoxide • Differing concentrations will vary CNS effects • Ideal concentration is about 20% • Can be dried to powder and packed into capsules

34. “The Party's Never Over:While the days of THC are past, the days of ecstasy and GHB are peaking”

35. GHB • Rapidly absorbed and eliminated 20-45 minutes • Serum levels can be obtained up to about 8 hours • Urine specimen up to 12 hours • Victim’s rarely make it to the hospital in this amount of time. • If DFSA is suspected time is of the essence!

36. GHB • G Easy lay • Scoop Liquid X • Grievous Bodily Harm • Liquid E • Salty Water

37. Other Common Drugs in DFSA • Ketamine • RAVE – Dance Parties • Psilocybin – mushrooms, LSD • MDMA – hallucinogenic, stimulant (Ectasy) • Number one RAVE drug • Dilated pupils, bounding energy, increased HR, BP • Often imported from Europe • Sextasy MDNA taken with a Viagra • Bounding energy with 3 to 4 hour erection

38. Ketamine • K • Special K • Vitamin K • Legitimate veterinarian tranquilizer • Pediatric anethesia

39. MDMA • 3,4-methlenedioxymethamphetamine • Ecstasy • X • XTC • E • Hug Drug

40. Ask about the Lab Test • DFSA labs should be sent to a special lab, often the FBI lab. Normal hospital drug screens do not cover many DFSA drugs. • Generally blood and urine depending on the timeframe. • Ask the forensic nurse for clarification

41. Questions???