Date Rape Drug Detector Discovered

Israeli scientists have created an ingenious sensor that can detect two of the most commonly employed date rape drugs with 100 percent accuracy.

A quick stir can tell it all…

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Just stirring your drink can reveal whether it’s laced with date rape drugs, say researchers!

Israeli scientists claim that they have created an ingenious sensor that resembles a straw or a stirrer which is capable of detecting two of the most commonly employed date rape drugs with 100 percent accuracy.

Fernando Patolsky, chemistry professor at Tel Aviv University who co-created the device said "It samples a very small volume of the drink and mixes it with a testing solution. This causes a chemical reaction that makes the solution cloudy or colored, depending on the drug."

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The reaction then turns on a small red light which alerts the person consuming the drink, even in the dingiest bars, to abandon the drink.

Creating a sensor that is fast, accurate and affordable wasn’t easy for the researchers but Patolsky and his partner Michael Ioffe think it's an absolute necessity.

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"Preventing it is the best thing to do.I hope it will be sold in bars, in pharmacies," said Patolsky, who is the father of three young daughters. He informed that thedevice wouldcost less than a drink and is designed to be used multiple times until it comes in contact and reacts with a drug.

For now the sensor detects GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) and ketamine. The team hopes to add Rohypnal - "ruffies" - to the list of drugs that can be detected within a span of a year.

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However, the use of these date drugs, which are powerful odorless, colorless and tasteless sedatives, is actually very limited is actually very low. According to Dr. Robert DuPont, the first director of National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and current president of the Institute for Behavior and Health, alcohol is the bigger factor when it comes to unwanted sexual encounters.

DuPont believes that people are putting themselves in high risk situations when they consume alcohol. It has always been discussed since times of yore that if guys can get their dates drunk their chances of indulging in sex were better.

"It's another reason not to use drugs and not to drink too much, because you're very vulnerable to all kinds of things," Dupont said. Although he's impressed by the technology of the sensor, Dupont isn’t sure of the sensor's applicability and says that the device would have to be used universally to make a big difference.

Nevertheless, Patolsky and Ioffe feel that the importance of their discovery is great and are eagerly looking forward to their product reaching the market.

Reference:

1. Third age.com

2. FRENCHTRIBUNE.com

Source-Medindia