Data on feminicides committed in the Federal District over the last 10 years reveal that alcohol and drug consumption are present in a significant part of the incidents. An investigation by the Secretariat of Public Security of the DF (SSP-DF) indicates that between March 2015 and August 2025, at least 36.4% of the 220 perpetrators of homicides against women were under the influence of illicit substances at the time of the crime.
The study of suspects/perpetrators of feminicides committed in the Federal District produced a detailed profile of the perpetrators, taking into account demographic characteristics, criminal history, use of psychoactive substances, ties to victims and social context.
Of the perpetrators, 31.4% reported consuming alcohol at the time of the crime, while 36.4% reported using illicit drugs.
Among the authors who had information on the use of narcotics, cocaine (54%) and marijuana (38%) stood out.
According to delegate Marcelo Zago Ferreira, coordinator of the technical chamber for monitoring homicides and feminicides of the SSP/DF, there are clear signs of under-reporting. Indeed, it is not always possible to confirm, throughout the investigation, whether the attacker had consumed alcohol or drugs.
“We start from a minimum number. In the study, at least 31% were under the influence of alcohol and at least 38% were under the influence of drugs. But this percentage could be higher, because often this information is not collected at any stage of the process,” he explains.
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Marcelo Zago Ferreira, Coordinator of the Technical Chamber for Surveillance of Homicides and Femicides of the SSP/DF
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Marcelo also highlights the importance of evidence-based public policies
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According to the delegate, the difficulty is due to operational limitations. In some cases, the victim’s body is found days after the crime, or the perpetrator does not undergo forensic examinations to prove substance use.
“The suspect is not always subjected to a forensic examination. Sometimes, the identification of use is simple, when there is obvious intoxication. In other cases, no,” he specifies.
Although alcohol and drug use are not identified as the direct cause of femicide, the police chief emphasizes that substances are a significant factor in increasing violence. “They are not the root of the problem, but they act as a catalyst. They release moral brakes and reduce the capacity for control,” he says.
A specific section carried out by the technical chamber of the SSP-DF sought to identify which drugs were most associated with crimes against women.
“These are drugs that stimulate the central nervous system, which tend to make the person more agitated and aggressive,” explains the delegate. Depressant substances, like marijuana, tend to cause more lethargic effects, although they can also be associated with violent behavior.
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Weekends concentrate cases
The study also highlights that the majority of feminicides take place on weekends (52%). For the delegate, the concentration of these offenses during this period reinforces the hypothesis of the influence of alcohol consumption during leisure time.
He recalls that the public policies adopted in the DF, such as the restriction of the opening hours of drinks distributors, have already shown a positive impact. “After this measure, homicides resulting from interpersonal conflicts decreased significantly,” he says, citing studies by the Undersecretariat for Information Management (SGI).
In addition to criminal repression, Marcelo also highlights the importance of evidence-based public policies. The SSP-DF develops preventive actions aimed at vulnerable communities, such as the Aliança Protetiva program, which trains community and religious leaders to act as information multipliers on domestic violence and its risk factors.
“Data cannot stand still. It must be used to guide effective public policies. This is how we can act before violence reaches extremes,” he says.
Case of femicide
In almost a year, the Federal District has reached the tragic milestone of 26 femicides recorded this year. The number of crimes already exceeds the number of cases that occurred in the country’s capital throughout 2024, when 22 women had their lives interrupted due to gender-based violence.
The data is part of the panel on feminicides, supplied by SSP-DF. Until the last update, on December 19, of the total number of femicides recorded in 2025, 22 cases had been confirmed. Four deaths are still being analyzed and could change the ranking.
The most recent case was recorded on December 5, within the 1st Guard Cavalry Regiment, in a Brazilian army barracks. The victim is Corporal Maria de Lourdes Freire Matos, 25 years old.
She was stabbed to death by soldier Kelvin Barros da Silva, 21. Later, the victim’s body was charred after the attacker set fire to the barracks.
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