Introduction to Date Rape Drugs
A temporary "tattoo" could deliver a secret indicator to party goers looking for a safe evening, helping to recognize drugs often used to spike drinks in public bars and clubs. Rohypnol, also known as "Roofie," and GHB, sometimes referred to as "liquid ecstasy" or "fantasy," are club drugs commonly used by young people in bars, nightclubs, raves, and other nightlife environments. These drugs are illegal in many places, including the United States, Great Britain, and Australia.
Effects of Date Rape Drugs
While certain doses of these club drugs can cause feelings of relaxation or euphoria, excessive doses can lead to symptoms such as drowsiness, loss of speech, loss of motor function, confusion, and memory impairment. Overdosing and toxicity are also possible. The drug regulatory authorities have identified both drugs as the toxins of choice for offenders trying to spike drinks, rendering their victims unconscious or incapacitated and then sexually assaulting them.
Difficulty in Detection
Since these short-lived, tasteless, and colorless drugs are difficult to detect, it is particularly challenging for those who want to have a safe night to know whether their drink has been spiked. However, a new innovation could make drug identification practically seamless.
Faster, Discreet Test for Hazardous Medication
There are already products that can help people determine whether a drink has been spiked. These appear as strips that can be immersed in a drink, with a change in color indicating the presence of an undesirable chemical. However, such techniques can take minutes and may make a person using an obvious test method susceptible to other social dangers.
The New "Tattoo" Sticker
The new rapid test, developed by material scientists, could offer an alternative. The product, which resembles a tattoo but is actually a removable sticker, can provide an opportunity to identify the presence of GHB quickly and subtly. Embedded in the silicone sticker film is a solution that contains an iodide indicator called BHEI. When exposed to a solution containing GHB, the indicator changes from yellow to red.
Effectiveness and Sensitivity
According to the recorded results, the color changed almost immediately when exposed to GHB drops in whiskey, vodka, beer, or coffee. For those wearing the sticker, they would only need to expose their marker to one drop in their drink for the change to take place. It was sensitive enough to detect 0.01 milligrams of GHB per milliliter.
Promising but Further Tests Required
It is not the first time sensors have been developed to recognize date rape medication. However, fast test products are likely to be developed for the market. Kabrena Rodda, a forensic toxicologist, noted that some spot tests can be unreliable, often having high incorrectly positive results. Rodda said the sticker test developed by the Korean researchers was "commendable and important."
Limitations and Future Development
Adaptation and adaptability to other target medications are currently limited. Since a custom form has to be produced and filled with agarose gels containing the GHB chemical receptor, there can be restrictions on forms such as real tattoos. However, if receptors for substances such as opioids or synthetic cannabinoids are developed in the future, they can be integrated into the tattoo sticker platform.
