It’s something that has happened to around one in 10 women and one in 20 men.
But detecting if your drink has been spiked could soon be as simple as dabbing some of it onto your arm.
Scientists from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology have developed a temporary tattoo that can detect the presence of ‘date rape’ drugs.
If the tattoo detects even low concentrations of y–hydroxybutyrate (GHB), it will change from yellow to red.
Best of all, this process is almost instantaneous – taking around one second, according to the researchers.
There are already a range of measures available for drinkers to limit access to their drinks, including anti–spiking drink covers and films.
However, the researchers hope the new tattoo will offer a quick and simple way to ensure beverages are safe.
‘This innovation represents a proactive and accessible solution for preventing DFSAs –[drug–related sexual assault], enhancing personal safety, and fostering a sense of control and awareness in high–risk environments,’ the team explained.
Scientists from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology have developed a temporary tattoo that can detect the presence of ‘date rape’ drugs
Spiking occurs when someone puts drugs into another person’s drink without their knowledge or consent – often to make it easier to rape or sexually assault them (stock image)
Spiking occurs when someone puts drugs into another person’s drink without their knowledge or consent – often to make it easier to rape or sexually assault them.
‘Spiking can happen for different reasons – for example, because someone thinks it’s funny or because someone wants to commit a crime against the person they’re spiking, such as theft, rape or sexual assault,’ Rape Crisis explains on its website.
‘Whatever the motive, spiking is never okay or funny.
‘It can make a person extremely vulnerable and ill, and have a lasting impact on their wellbeing and life.’
One of the most common date rape drugs is GHB, which can cause dizziness, confusion, short–term amnesia, and even unconsciousness.
Unfortunately, detecting if your drink has been spiked can prove tricky.
Writing in their study, published in ACS Sensors, the team, led by Kim Gyeong–Ji, explained: ‘The drug used for date rape is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, which can be completely dissolved in beverages to avoid suspicion.’
There are already several GHB detection measures available, including specialised strips or cards that change colour when exposed to the drug.
If the tattoo detects even low concentrations of y–hydroxybutyrate (GHB), it will change from yellow to red
To create the tattoo stickers, the researchers placed a mold over the top of a thin plastic film, decorated with tattoo–like designs
However, most of these are time consuming, and aren’t exactly subtle.
In their new study, the team set out to develop a more accessible alternative – eventually settling on a temporary tattoo.
To create the tattoo stickers, the researchers placed a mold over the top of a thin plastic film, decorated with tattoo–like designs.
They then poured in a gel mixture containing a chemical receptor that turns red in the presence of GHB.
Finally, they coated the back of the sticker with glue, so it could stick to the skin.
To test the tattoo’s accuracy, the team applied dabs of GHB dissolved in a variety of beverages, incuding whisky, vodka, beer, soju, and coffee.
Across all beverages, the researchers found that the tattoo could detect the drug – even at low concentrations.
‘In practice, a wearer could dip a finger into a beverage, touch the drop to the sticker and see the result almost immediately,’ the researchers explained in a statement.
What’s more, the sticker displays the positive result for up to 30 days, which could be helpful if it’s needed as evidence.
Unfortunately, the price and timeline for availablity of the tattoo remain unclear at this stay.
However, the researchers reassure that the sticker is ‘inexpensive and easy to manufacture’, and say it will be commercially available ‘soon’.
