Is your drink safe?

An Israeli company claims to have invented a device that can detect date-rape drugs in drinks. The device looks like a regular cocktail stirrer, but it is supposed to light up when placed in a drink that contains GHB, rohypnol (aka “roofies”) or ketamine.

If this is true, it would be a benefit to clubbers – but it also raises some red flags. The stirrers might give women a false sense of security. If she plops the stick it in her drink and it doesn’t light up, everything must be fine, right? Nope.

To begin, the device only tests for three substances. While GHB, rohypnol and ketamine are the major pharmaceuticals used in substance-facilitated date rapes, there are hundreds of other drugs that can be used for the same purpose – and new drugs are being invented by would-be rapists every day. Just because the stick doesn’t light up doesn’t mean someone hasn’t slipped something into your drink.

Second, we’ll have to wait and see how effective these sticks really are. Companies have come forward with big claims that didn’t turn out to be true before. In the 1990’s, a company claimed to have invented coasters that could test for GHB if you put a drop of your drink on the coaster – but the coasters didn’t work in many situations, including when the drink was acidic, as many alcoholic drinks are (think rum & Coke, OJ & vodka, margaritas, etc.).

Finally, the very fact that you’re out drinking means that you’re imbibing a potential date-rape drug.  Alcohol is, far and away, the most popular substance used to facilitate date rape.  The little stirrer won’t light up and tell you that.

So, what should you do to protect yourself when you’re out drinking? Go with friends you trust, and use the buddy system. Look out for each other. Don’t leave an open drink unattended at the bar. If anything tastes funny, stop drinking it (GHB tastes salty, and other substances can taste bitter – but roofies have no taste at all). If you start feeling woozy, leave with someone you trust. Most importantly, don’t drink to the point of heading out of the bar stumbling drunk.

If you think you’ve been the victim of a date-rape drug, call the police and go to a hospital immediately. Doctors can screen for some date-rape drugs, but these drugs are metabolized by the body quickly, so timing is essential. And (my fellow SVU fans know this) don’t brush your teeth, shower or wash yourself, as that could destroy valuable evidence.

These little stirrers could be a great weapon in the fight against sexual assault, but we all still need to look out for ourselves – and each other.