According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, an estimated one in six women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, 73 percent of which know their assailants. These startling statistics may have been what prompted Israeli scientists to develop a sensor which they say can detect two of the most commonly used date rape drugs with 100 percent accuracy.
Co-creater of the device and chemistry professor at Tel Aviv University, Fernando Patolsky says, "It samples a very small volume of the drink and mixes it with a testing solution that causes a chemical reaction that makes the solution cloudy or colored, depending on the drug."
According to Patolsky, the sensor, that resembles a drink stirrer, should cost less than a drink and can be reused multiple times. The sensor alerts the user by turning on a small red light when GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) or Ketamine are present in the drink. The team hopes to add Rohypnal—“roofies”—to these within a year.
Patolsky and partner Michael Ioffee agree that ensuring a fast, reliable and affordable product is not an easy feat however they are passionate about prevention and safety in order to prevent rape. Date rape drugs are commonly used to put a person under a sedative or hypnotic effect. Data from the U.S. Department of Justice reports that in 2007, nearly 200,000 women were raped in the United States due to the help of date rape drugs, though only 16 percent reported the incident.
"Preventing it is the best thing to do," said Patolsky, who has three young daughters. "I hope it will be sold in bars, in pharmacies."
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