Toxicology of Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault
Toxicology of Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault

Care After Sexual Assault

If you think you may have been a victim of sexual assault, you can seek medical care for treatment and/or forensic testing. If you intend to seek medical care for forensic testing, there are some precautions that should be taken to ensure that tests are effective. These are outlined below.

What you should do if you think you have been drugged or assaulted

If you feel comfortable, avoid the following activities as they could potentially damage evidence:

  • Bathing and showering
  • Using the restroom
  • Changing clothes
  • Combing hair
  • Cleaning up the area of the assault
  • Using feminine douche products

Sexual Assault Evidence Kit

The Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (SAEK) is used for the collection of forensic evidence in cases of sexual assault. SAEKs are administered by a specially trained sexual assault care nurse at Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centres in hospitals. The use of a SAEK is voluntary and requires consent from the victim. The contents of the kit usually include documentation forms, instructions, materials for blood samples, and swabs as well as envelopes, bottles, and containers for evidence collection. In addition to SAEK, a toxicology kit may be utilized if there are signs that the victim may have been exposed to drugs. The exam will generally take a few hours, but times can vary depending on various factors. Typically, it is best to conduct the test within 72 hours of the assault, but evidence may still be available up to 12 days later. Although evidence is not a requirement for prosecution, it greatly assists law enforcement with investigations.

Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centres in Toronto

Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centres provide follow-up health care, emergency services, follow-up counselling to female and male survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence.

Scarborough and Rouge Hospital 
3030 Birchmount Road 
Toronto, ON M1W 3W3 
416-495-2555 
Website: www.sacc.to

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) 
Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Program 
555 University Avenue 
Room 6427 Black Wing 
416-813-6275 (day time) 
416-813-7500 (24 Hours) 
Website: www.sickkids.ca/scan

Women’s College Hospital
Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Care Centre 
76 Grenville Street 
Toronto, ON M5S 1B2 
416-323-6040

Date-Rape Drug Tests

If there are signs that a victim has been intoxicated, physicians will normally conduct drug tests to confirm if the victim has been exposed to a drug, as well as to determine which drug they were intoxicated with. There are three commonly used drug tests that are outlined below.

Blood and Urine Testing

Blood and urine testing is done to check for the presence of drugs, or their metabolites either in circulation or in the urine. These tests are time sensitive, however, since most date-rape drugs are often flushed out from the body within 12 hours of ingestion. For this reason, blood and urine tests must be done as soon as possible following assault, and the victim must also refrain from urinating if possible.

Hair Testing

If a victim has waited longer than 24 to 48 hours prior to conducting drug tests, a hair test may be considered instead of blood and urine tests. Hair tests can be used in the detection of GHB, alcohol, rohypnol and ecstasy. They are conducted seven days after assault, however, can detect exposure to drugs over a 90 day period. Through the detection of drugs and/or their metabolites in the hair, physicians can confirm exposure to GHB, alcohol, rohypnol and ecstasy.

Medical Treatment for Sexual Assault

Following administration of the sexual assault evidence kit, and toxicological tests (if applicable), medical treatment can be provided. Usually treatment is comprised of the following:

  1. Treatment for overdose from date-rape drugs: activated charcoal for all drugs as it can accelerate elimination and reduce absorption
    • GHB: no antidote available, only supportive care
    • Alcohol: Metadoxine
    • Rohypnol: Flumazenil
    • Ketamine: generally requires supportive care only
  2. Treatment of physical injuries from sexual assault
  3. Treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (typically antibiotics and antiviral drugs)
  4. Emergency contraception

Contributed By: Harini Kumaraverl

References