Drug‐Facilitated Crime

Investigations into reports of drug-facilitated crimes (DFCs) have increased substantially in recent times. These crimes are investigated when an individual reports having been robbed or assaulted while incapacitated as a result of the effects of a drug—usually, a strong central nervous system (CNS) depressant. A CNS depressant prevents individuals from consenting to the action of perpetrators or from fighting off their attackers. The drug, in essence, acts as a weapon for the offender. This article provides information on the manner in which DFCs occur, the drugs that are used to commit these crimes, and the means of improving the detection of the drugs through toxicological analyses. Keywords: drug-facilitated crime; drug-facilitated sexual assault; rape; dfsa; dfc