Sean Combs' drug case sheds light on big Ohio problem

Gov. Mike DeWine, Sens. J.D. Vance and Sherrod Brown and state lawmakers should issue statewide mandates and direct adequate funding to ensure universal testing.

Stephanie Dershaw
| Guest Writer

Stephanie Dershaw She is the CEO of Survivors of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault in Columbus, dedicated to advocacy, education and support.

Among the accusations in the indictment: Criminal complaint against Sean CombsThe government alleges that Combs drugged the women without their consent for the purpose of sexually assaulting them.

Bringing criminal charges for drugged sexual assault varies from state to state.

Using drugs without consent is a felony in Ohio, but hospitals and law enforcement agencies in our state do not have uniform protocols or standards for collecting and refrigerating urine and blood from victims; Vital evidence is required to pursue accusations.

The effective testing range is often overlooked because the drugs offenders use to commit crimes are eliminated from the body before they are tested by hospitals, or because hospitals simply do not test. inactivating drugs.

Children who are not tested have consequences

Forensic nurses in Ohio collected more than 700 blood and urine samples from suspected victims in 2023, according to data collected by my organization, Survivors of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault. Toxicology laboratories processed 200 of them.

This means that around 500 kits have not been tested, and since urine and blood must be properly cooled, the evidence is probably no longer useful.

Even if urine and blood kits are collected from victims, the chain of custody for these kits in Ohio is unreliable and no agency or agency can be held accountable.

Drug-facilitated kits (these are kits that test for knockout drugs) are processed in separate facilities than rape kits, which typically contain DNA evidence, according to forensic nurses who provide care to victims.

When hospitals and law enforcement fail to preserve evidence and investigate alleged crimes, perpetrators Michael DiGiorgioA 50-year-old California man accused of drugging and sexually assaulting nine women and killing one of them is free to strike again.

There are critical steps we can take.

Change must happen

Emergency departments can increase the number of forensic nurses trained to collect evidence from suspected survivors.

Additionally, hospital staff and local law enforcement must be trained to treat victims with compassion. All too often, victims who test positive for willingly taking illicit substances are treated with contempt in hospital emergency rooms, and allegations that they were drugged with GHB, ketamine, and other “rape drugs” are ignored.

My organization is building a coalition of survivors, forensic nurses, and other advocates to pressure hospitals, police departments, and state health officials to fix gaps in evidence collection and go after serial rapists who drug their victims.

Gov. Mike DeWine, Sens. J.D. Vance and Sherrod Brown and state lawmakers should issue statewide mandates and direct adequate funding to ensure universal testing.

My journey from survivor to advocate has shown me the power of community action. Together, we can ensure that I, and stories like mine, catalyze movement toward a safer, more supportive community for everyone.

our website, www.survivorsofdfsa.orgIt serves as an educational resource and community hub where survivors and allies can connect.

Stephanie Dershaw is the CEO of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault Survivors in Columbus, dedicated to advocacy, education and support.

Gov. Mike DeWine, Sens. J.D. Vance and Sherrod Brown and state lawmakers should issue statewide mandates and direct adequate funding to ensure universal testing.

Children who are not tested have consequences

Change must happen

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