MDMA (ecstasy) is a synthesized entactogenic drug. One case of drug-facilitated crime by the association alcohol / MDMA has been described in the article of C Sastre and al. (Annales de Toxicologie Analytique, 2012). In our laboratory, consumption of ecstasy and/or synthesized cathinones (entactogenic molecules related to cathinone, a psychoactive principle of khat) was revealed by toxicological analysis in twelve cases of drug-facilitated crime between 2011 and 2013.

Total blood, urine or rinses of traces found in a broken glass were extracted and analyzed by LC-DAD, GC-MS and LC-MS/ MS. MDMA and MDA (main metabolite of MDMA) and other entactogens were quantified by GC-MS in SIM mode after liquid-liquid extraction and derivatization.

Analyzed matrices were total blood and urine, with the exception of one case in which only urine was available and the case of the broken glass.

Six cases happened in a festive place and sexual abuse was confirmed in nine cases where MDMA was used in order to provoke sexual disinhibition. In ten cases, ecstasy and/or cathinones was absorbed in association with a drink and in four cases, it was a willing act. Symptoms of amnesia were revealed in nine cases. Sample blood was available in ten cases and contained MDMA five times and MDA three times. Concentrations range from 10.9 to 474,0μg/L for MDMA and from 16.2 to 35,9μg/L for MDA.

These cases reveal a strong association between MDMA use and high-risk sexual behavior. Search of amphetamines and other entactogenic drugs is necessary in cases of drug-facilitated crime or abuse of state of weakness. Collected data show that empirical approach in drug-facilitated crime analysis is not enough, and enforce the necessity of a systematic search of stimulants in toxicological analysis.
Age (years) / sexEcstasy / synthesized cathinones (other)Delay between facts and sampling– / FEcstasy (cannabis, doxylamine)~ 3 days46 / FMDPV (diphenhydramine)(glass)20 / FEcstasy (EtOH, cannabis)15 to 16 hours40 / MEcstasy / 4-MEC, MDPV (EtG, cannabis, cocaine, benzodiazepines, doxylamine, hydroxyzine, cetirizine, lidocaine, acetaminophen)1 to 4 days14 / FEcstasy (cocaine, methamphetamine)~ 36 hours16 / FEcstasy (cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine)~ 36 hours28 / FEcstasy (ibuprofen)~ 24 hours32 / FEcstasy (EtOH < LOQ, EtG, cocaine, hydroxyzine, cetirizine, acetaminophen, ibuprofen)~ 15 hours21 / FEcstasy (EtG)~ 20 hours20 / FEcstasy (EtOH < LOQ, EtG, ibuprofen)~ 2 days24 / FEcstasy (EtOH, EtG, cocaine)1 to 9 hours24 / MEcstasy1 to 9 hours