[Drug-facilitated sexual assault; frequently used substances, symptoms and toxicological investigation]

Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) is a term used to describe incidents of sexual assault in which the victim is incapacitated and/or unable to provide consent to the sexual act as a result of drug or alcohol consumption. There are two types: 'proactive' in which the victim is covertly administered an incapacitating or disinhibiting substance by an assailant for the purpose of sexual assault; and 'opportunistic' in which a perpetrator engages in sexual activity with a victim who is profoundly intoxicated by his or her actions, to the point of near or actual unconsciousness. Alcohol is the drug most commonly found in alleged sexual assault cases. It is followed by non-opiate analgesics, illicit drugs and benzodiazepines. The possibility of DFSA should be considered in sexual assault cases. If there is suspicion, drug and alcohol screening has to be done as soon as possible because delay may lead to false-negative results.