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Cocktail Straw Can Detect Date Rape Drugs

Israeli scientists developing small, affordable sensor for use in drinks

by
Stephanie Butnick
August 10, 2011
(Buzz Andersen/Flickr)
(Buzz Andersen/Flickr)

Israeli scientists Fernando Patolski and Michael Ioffe, both professors at Tel Aviv University, are developing a sensor that, when submerged in either an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink, can detect the presence of two common date rape drugs.

So far tests on the unfinished product—which the developers say will be a small, inexpensive device resembling a stirrer that lights up discretely or sends a message to a cell phone if the drugs are present—have been 100 percent accurate.

According to reports, the device simply needs to be placed into a drink:

“The sensor works by picking up a bit of alcohol and mixing it with a patent chemical formula, which was also developed by Patolsky and Ioffe.



So far, the sensor can detect gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and ketamine. The scientists want to develop the sensor to detect Rohypnol, commonly known as ‘roofies.’



The sensor never failed to detect the presence of the two drugs. It can be used several times until it detects a drug.”

However, some predict the device won’t find mainstream success—its sudden use might seem accusatory, say, on a date—while acknowledging the unpleasant reality that date rape can occur without the presence of drugs.

Stephanie Butnick is chief strategy officer of Tablet Magazine, co-founder of Tablet Studios, and a host of the Unorthodox podcast.