El Hospital de Dénia has developed a protocol for the approach of patients suspected of having suffered "chemical submission", after the last cases registered this summer in the Emergency Service. Since last June, 8 alleged victims have been treated, all of them young women; the last one, last morning.
Given the increase in casuistry, Dénia Hospital has developed an action protocol with the aim of unifying criteria, both in the clinical approach to patients, and in the referral of tests for analysis, the preparation of reports and the implementation in the knowledge of the competent authority.
According to the Director of Primary Care and Head of the Emergency Service of the Department of Health of Dénia -DSD, Dr. Antonio Barceló, the recommendation is that, "on suspicion of a puncture and / or alteration of consciousness in an unjustified manner, contact , as soon as possible, with the emergency services of the hospital or the Primary Care network of the Marina Alta, since the effect of injected hypnotics such as Scopolamine is very rapid and could alter the victim's judgment."
The most common substances in cases of chemical submission are: ethyl alcohol, benzodiazepine hypnotics or others such as gamma hydroxybutyrate, methanol, opioids, cannabinoids, ketamine, cocaine, amphetamine derivatives, LSD, atropine, burundanga, scopolamine and solvents.
The symptoms that patients may present range from complete or partial amnesia, behavioral changes, agitation, drowsiness, hallucinations, disinhibition and even loss of consciousness.
The protocol drawn up by the Dénia Hospital includes, in addition to the examination and sampling (urine and blood) for subsequent analysis; the application of the current sexual assault protocol, if the patient refers or the professional suspects the commission of this crime. In addition, all patients are administered post-exposure prophylaxis against HIV.
