Date rape drug in drinks, temporary tattoo created that can detect it

Designing a temporary tattoo capable of detecting the presence of unwanted narcotics in drinks. This is the goal of a study published in the American Chemical Society journal Sensors, conducted by scientists at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology and Sungkyunkwan University in Korea. The team, led by Gyeong-Ji Kim, Jai Eun An, Kyong-Cheol Ko, and Oh Seok Kwon, created a temporary tattoo that reacts within one second to low concentrations of α-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)-based narcotics, such as Rohypnol, a benzodiazepine.

'Date rape drugs'

These compounds, experts explain, are colorless and tasteless, but they induce a stupor in the victim similar to that associated with severe alcohol intoxication, which can make them vulnerable to sexual assault. Special strips exist that change color when immersed in a tainted drink, but these methods are often conspicuous and take several minutes to achieve their effect.

The solution proposed by the research group, however, involves the application of a temporary tattoo that provides feedback within a second. Specifically, the mold contains a gel mixture with a chemical receptor that turns red when it detects GHB. The system has been tested on various beverages: whiskey, vodka, beer, coffee, and soju , a Korean alcoholic beverage.

The advantages over current methods

In just one second, the tattoo detected the drug at a concentration range below a level that would induce severe physiological symptoms. In other words, simply dipping a finger in the drink or pouring a few drops of the drink onto the tattoo yields a result almost immediately. The sticker displays a positive result for up to 30 days after detection, which could be important if needed as tamper evidence. This technology, the authors conclude, is inexpensive and easy to produce, so it could soon be commercially available.