Toxicological analysis in victims of sexual and domestic violence: A retrospective study of a 3-year period (2018–2020)

• Published in: Journal of forensic and legal medicine 2023-10, Vol.99, p.102578-102578, Article 102578
• Main Authors: Di Candia, Domenico, Franceschetti, Lorenzo, Giordano, Gaia, Merelli, Vera Gloria, Attisano, Giuseppe Lanza, Boracchi, Michele, Barbara, Giussy, Kustermann, Alessandra, Cattaneo, Cristina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical forensic medicine; Domestic violence; Drug facilitated sexual assault; Sexual violence; Toxicological analyses
• ISSN: 1752-928X; 1878-7487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2023.102578

This manuscript presents an epidemiological investigation carried out on abuse victims who accessed the Sexual and Domestic Violence Service (SVS&D) of IRCCS Ca’ Granda in Milan, Italy. The focal point of this research was the detection of alcohol, prescription medications, and illicit substances in victims who solicited help from the SVS&D center between 2018 and 2020. Over this three-year span, biological samples of blood and urine were procured from 207 victims, out of a patient pool of 2470. All collected samples were analyzed via High Performance Liquid Chromatography – Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Toxicological examination results demonstrated that 43% of the cases tested positive for substances in 2018, 39% in 2019 and 60% of the cases in 2020. Overall, 45% of the victims tested resulted positive to some substance over a 3-year period, equivalent to 3.6% of the overall cases (2470 victims). Substances of toxicological interest were detected in 104 samples (out of 377, corresponding to 27.6%) belonging to 94 patients. The most detected classes of drugs were stimulants, antidepressants, benzodiazepines and antipsychotics. Moreover, BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) indicated positivity in 25 cases (out of 184 cases analyzed - 14% of positive cases). Based on this study's findings, we recommend broadening the range of substances evaluated in drug-facilitated sexual assaults and establishing standardized protocols for both national and international implementation. Implementing procedures would significantly enhance forensic support provided to victims of abuse seeking healthcare services post-incident. •Forensic toxicology on 207 victims of sexual or domestic violence.•A retrospective study of 3-year period on victims of abuse.•Illicit drugs were detected in 45% of the victims.•Licit drugs in 30% of the victims.•Licit and illicit drugs were noted in 25% of the cases.