DFSA (Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault)
Definition
Sexual assault in which a substance is administered without the victim's consent to induce sedation, incapacitation, or amnesia. Most common substances in confirmed DFSA toxicology series are ethanol and benzodiazepines, not GHB, contrary to popular perception.
Related terms
- 7-Aminoflunitrazepam
- The primary urinary metabolite of flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), detected by LC-MS/MS in urine for up to 72 hours post-ingestion. The target analyte for...
- Endogenous GHB Threshold
- Normal human blood GHB is 0.5-4 mg/L; urine 1-10 mg/L. Post-mortem fermentation can raise values to 20-50 mg/L. Forensic toxicologists typically use...
- Etizolam
- A thienodiazepine (thiophene ring instead of benzene ring fused to the diazepine) with GABA-A modulation pharmacology equivalent to classical benzodiazepines. Approved in...
- Flubromazolam
- A potent triazolo-benzodiazepine (active at 0.125-1 mg), not internationally scheduled, appearing in DFSA and overdose casework. Not cross-reactive with standard BZD immunoassays....
- GABA-a Receptor
- The main inhibitory ligand-gated ion channel in the CNS; a pentameric alpha-beta-gamma subunit complex that opens its central chloride channel when GABA...
- GBL (Gamma-Butyrolactone)
- A prodrug of GHB spontaneously hydrolysed by blood paraoxonase-1 to GHB within minutes. An industrial solvent; scheduled as Class C in the...
- GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid)
- An endogenous GABA metabolite and short-chain fatty acid; exogenous doses of 1-3 g produce sedation, euphoria, and amnesia. Blood half-life ~20-30 min;...
- Phenobarbital
- A long-acting barbiturate (half-life 80-120 h) listed on the WHO Essential Medicines List as a first-line antiepileptic; Schedule IV under the UN...
- Positive Allosteric Modulation
- Mechanism by which benzodiazepines enhance GABA-A function: they increase the frequency of chloride channel opening in response to GABA without directly activating...
Explained in
- Depressants: Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates and GHBSexual assault in which a substance is administered without the victim's consent to induce sedation, incapacitation, or amnesia. Most common substances in conf...