The investigation of drug-facilitated sexual assault cases faces two major challenges. In addition to the race against time to detect substances that rapidly disappear from the body, investigators must also deal with the fact that a wide variety of different drugs can be used in these crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To address these challenges, researchers from Prof. Jos\u00e9 Luiz da Costa’s group developed and validated a method capable of simultaneously detecting 57 drugs and metabolites in urine samples. Besides demonstrating high sensitivity, the protocol was successfully tested using samples collected from victims treated at the Toxicological Information and Assistance Center (CIATox) at the University of Campinas (Unicamp).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Brazil, the expression “Goodnight, Cinderella”<\/mark><\/strong> (“Boa Noite, Cinderela”) is commonly used to describe a type of crime in which the victim is drugged and subsequently robbed and\/or sexually assaulted<\/strong>. Typically, the victim’s drink is adulterated with substances that induce drowsiness, disorientation, memory loss, or unconsciousness<\/strong>. Offenders exploit this state of vulnerability<\/strong> to commit theft, robbery, or sexual violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In these cases, the perpetrator secretly administers substances that are usually colorless and have little or no noticeable odor or taste. These drugs are often mixed with alcoholic beverages, helping to mask their initial effects. As a result, victims may believe they have simply had too much to drink, making it easier for the offender to “help” them by taking them elsewhere under the pretense of assisting their recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The name “Goodnight, Cinderella”<\/strong> refers to the famous fairy tale, but its origin is often misunderstood. Because the crime involves drugging the victim, many people assume it should instead be called “Goodnight, Sleeping Beauty,”<\/strong> since Sleeping Beauty is the princess who famously falls into a long sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In reality, the expression may have originated from a Brazilian television show hosted by Silvio Santos during the 1970s that bore the same name. Another possible explanation is that these crimes frequently occur at parties or nightclubs, evoking Cinderella’s iconic royal ball, where she famously loses her glass slipper. In the fairy tale, Cinderella also leaves before the end of the celebration, much like victims are often taken away before the event is over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n