ACPO study find alcohol to be the main 'date rape drug'

There is no evidence to suggest the widespread use of so-called date rape drugs such as Rohypnol. Instead, alcohol appears to be the intoxicant involved in the great majority of such cases.

These are the findings of Operation Matisse, a study for the Association of Chief Police Officers of all or alleged or suspected cases of drugfacilitated sexual assault over atwelve month period in theMetropolitan Police,Greater Manchester,Derbyshire, Northumbria and Lancashire police forces as well as the Walsall area of the WestMidlands Police.

A total of 120 cases were considered as part of the study. Each participant was asked toprovide information via a questionnaire which contributed to the analysis of samples by theForensic Science Service.

Rohypnol was not detectedin any of the cases.However,there were ten cases whichappeared to be linked to the useof a sedative or disinhibitingdrug, and another eleven in which the possibility could notbe discounted due to a lack ofclarity surrounding thecircumstances of the case.Gammahydroxbutyrate (GHB)was detected in two cases.

However, in most cases, thealleged victims had consumed alcohol voluntarily and in some cases, to dangerous levels.

119 of the 120 victims had reportedly been drinking alcohol, although alcohol was only detected in 62 cases. In 22 of these 62 cases, blood alcohol levels at the time of the incidentwere estimated to be 200mg%or greater – more than two or three times the drink drive limit.

In 57 cases, controlled or prescribed drugs were detected, cannabis and cocaine being themost commonly detected drugs.

The study thus suggests thathigh alcohol levels, especially ifcombined with sedating or disinhibiting drugs, play a majorpart in these types of cases.A modus operandi of someoffenders is to facilitate sexual assault by administering drugs, including alcohol, to victims. Other offenders exploit the incapacitation of the victim dueto alcohol or drug use by committing opportunistic assaults after the victim has become intoxicated by her own use of alcohol or other drugs.