Date Rape Drugs Detection

[V1DL3R]

So you may have seen over the last few days the news of these incredible minds:



They are not the next Boyzone.

These four gentlemen, at college in North Carolina have created a clear nail varnish which, when dry, can be dipped in any liquid and test for the presence of any drugs which are used in "date rape" crimes. The nail varnish changes colour if a drug is detected. Meaning that anyone can quickly stir their drink with their finger and check if the drink as been spiked. Actual genius in my opinion.



Strangely the reception has been mixed as this BBC article eloquently explains: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-28958365

Tweets like:
"Rape prevention nail polish sounds like a great idea but I’m not sure how you’re going to get men to wear it?" from well know womens issue activist Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) along with thousand of others.

Now, I know this a majority male forum but I also know of a fair few female petrol heads too and bearing in mind I think it's safe to say that everybody who isn't a rapist is an "anti-rape advocate". I struggle to fathom the logic of the hundreds of people who do not see this a positive thing. Anything that can prevent crime and not impact on quality of life, in my opinion in a positive thing which should be praised.

Am I missing something?

[V1DL3R]

TheEnd said:

One big thing is date rate drugs are massively rare, and girls getting drunk is far more common, and then blaming something else for the fact they kept falling over and being sick.

I understand your point but I can also see why people who have been victims of such a horrible crime will get frustrated with people taking that stance. Especially if they were genuinely date raped. A lot of the "twitterverse" seem to allude to the fact that the product "shouldn't" be needed - men shouldn't rape. We shouldn't need car alarms but there are bad people in the world (not that those two crimes are comparable). The comments that really confuse me are the ones that imply the product is not worth pursuing and direct attention to separate issues, when in reality we should be celebrating the ingenuity of the creators in helping solve a problem we all agree exists.

[V1DL3R]

VolvoT5 said:

Exactly. Slip a couple of extra shots of vodka into a cocktail and people could get uncontrollably drunk very quickly.

I find it hard to believe a simple nail varnish could detect all possible substances that could be used to date rape someone.

From what I have read, it covers the main toxins used. From my very limited understanding there a not all that many colourless, tasteless and odourless liquids which can temporarily incapacitate but that doesn't mean there won't be more in the future.

I don't think the product is aimed or even alludes to stop alcohol related incidents and I think it's fairly easy to detect via taste when someone drops a shot in your drink. I do think that's a different can a worms and not really the focus of the product.

The product may only be targeted to help empowerment a person to fight against a smaller percentage of cases but I'm still not sure the reaction from activists is constructive to thier cause and indeed fair to the people they represent. It just seems a bit weird, here is a product which can empower someone to quickly, cheaply and discreetly potentially avoid a rape situation to me that can only be a good thing and praised.

[V1DL3R]

Really interesting debate all. It's wonderful hearing everyones opinions.

otolith said:

Similar attitudes to this poster;

Thanks for sharing that creative it's really interesting and as an AD man who has worked on similar campaigns for knifecrime I can see what they were trying to achieve however not very tactfully I admit. The stat itself is interesting, 1in3 involved alcohol is how I read that. That suggests that 2in3 were drug or abuse (or other) related. This is interesting because they can't make that sort of claim without some substantiation however I would suggest from my own pretence and the other comments on here that most people think that alcohol is the most common factor.

VolvoT5 said:

What I dislike about this product most is that it is one step away from victim blaming again....... You were date raped you say? Did you check your drink for drugs first? You must know there is a test kit freely available now, and I see you were dressed rather provocatively too.... bet you lead him on didn't you? Well you got what you deserved then.

It's an interesting point and understandable, however personally I think it is a bit of a presumptuous step. In the interest of healthy debate, I don't think that any law enforcement office would work like that in reality. I think this idea of victim blame comes around because maybe, as a courtroom, it can be hard to see the wood from the trees on some cases and the nature of the setting and situation means it often ends on a their word against mine situation. This is wrong and something a nail varnish can not even come close to solving. However if you are drugged that can be tested retrospectively. You don't carry around rohypnol for any other reason other than intent, but the difficultly is proving that person spiked the drink. People are let down in other areas of protection, for example CCTV in night clubs. With any crime which is so circumstantial and difficult to prove anything that can be developed to avoid even 1 incident is better that probably anything I would ever do with my life. it's a tough one I admit.

Again all, that's for contributing. Really interesting stuff.