We live in a time wherein high school students had to invent an easy-to-use date rape detector—because you know how our world is filled with filthy people who just don’t understand the concept of “No!”
Susana Cappelo, Carolina Baigorri, and Victoria Roca of Gulliver Preparatory High School recently won the Miami Herald’s Business Plan Challenge for the Smart Straw—a tool that will allow people to protect themselves from drinks spiked with date-rape drugs. The straw turns blue when placed in a drink that contains GBH, Rohypnol, or Ketamine, three of the most commonly used drugs for intoxication.
The three ladies designed their test as a straw to make sure that it is easy to use in social activities, easy to pass around, and can be stashed in your purse or pocket—basically, no fuss. They are hoping to crowd-fund the product so that they can produce it for public use.
“Rapes assisted by drugs or alcohol are all too common,” Susana told A Plus. “We just want to give any gender a simple tool to protect themselves.”
Though there are many other drugs that can alter perception and intoxicate people, this nifty tool is a big step in preventing harassment and other unthinkable situations.
Good job, ladies!
[Refinery29, A Plus, and Fast Company]
Photos courtesy of Unsplash and Susana Cappelo for A Plus
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