A night out on the town, dancing, and visiting with friends can be a fantastic stress reliever and an enjoyable time. But there are potential dangers to going out, especially for women. Approximately one in five women (but this number could even be higher), will experience a sexual assault in their lifetime as per the Department of Justice. Of the women who experience sexual assault, 4.2% will have received a date rape drug from their attacker in a social setting.
Date rape drugs are often placed in drinks, alcoholic or not, without the knowledge of the victim. Drugs like Rohypnol, GHB, and GBL especially have no taste, smell, or color when mixed in with another beverage to flag their presence. Until recently, the best way to defer the risk of a date rape drug was to be aware of your drink at all times, avoid consuming drinks you did not see poured yourself, and watch out for friends when out at a bar or party. But preventing a sexual assault from date rape drugs may have just gotten a lot easier thanks to three Miami teenagers with their simple, but genius, invention.
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The Smart Straw
Three girls, Susana Cappello, Carolina Baigorri, and Victoria Roca, first learned of date rape drugs when Cappello’s older sister went off to university. Disturbing reports of sexual assault on the older sister’s campus reached the girls and got them looking deeper into the issues surrounding rape in common social settings.
Cappello told the media, “So, my friends and I knew we needed to come up with a simple solution to test for drugs,” and “I remember my dad always says ‘the best ideas are the ideas that help people,’ so we just thought of a simple, easy, inexpensive solution — Smart Straws.” Their idea was essentially for a straw, that would look like any other you would see at a bar, but with a sensor to detect for the presence of common date rape drugs (the straw tip turns blue with Rohypnol, GHB, and Ketamine).
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After tweaking and fully developing their idea, the three high-school students submitted a business plan to their school’s institutional business competition, but the idea was rejected. However, undeterred, the gals tried again and submitted the plan for Smart Straws to the much larger Miami Herald Business Competition for start-ups and entrepreneurs. They ended up beating 300 other entrants to win citywide. Where Can I Get One?
Unfortunately, the teen’s Smart Straw idea has not fully come to market. But the trio is hard at work on a prototype, patent, and plan to launch a crowdfunding campaign soon to fund the product. Working with large manufacturers, the ultimate hope is that the Smart Straw will be disposable, eco-friendly, and affordable.
“Rapes assisted by drugs or alcohol are all too common. We just want to give any gender a simple tool to protect themselves,” Cappello explained to A Plus. “We would also like to lower the rapes that occur in general with the involvement of alcoholic or nonalcoholic drinks.”
Prevention Is Still First
Smart straws, though a helpful tool, do not fully stop the need for party-goers to exercise caution and take steps to prevent a sexual assault. Open or mix all your own drinks, be aware that communal beverages (like a punch bowl) can be easily ‘spiked’, don’t drink anything that appears strange in taste or smell, and get help right away if you suddenly feel drunker than you should. Seek a friend in a safe place immediately, and call 911 for further assistance.
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Certainly, the responsibility of preventing rape should not really fall upon victims, but taking safety steps can provide peace of mind and control to anyone who feels vulnerable. A group of North Carolina State University students has also developed, and is on market now, a small, discreet test for date rape drugs call the Sip Chip. Application of a drop from a suspicious drink onto the quarter-sized Sip Chip can detect Xanax, Valium, and Rohypnol. The Sip Chip test can be carried on a key chain, phone, or small wallet – for easy access when you need it. Purchase a Sip Chip online for $34.99 for a five-test starter kit or $49.99 for 10 tests – worth checking out if you are looking for a tool to improve your safety and keep the good times rolling on a night out.
*Article originally appeared at Healthy Holistic Living. Reposted with permission.
