You’re at a bar or fun house party, surrounded by friends and music. You set your drink down for just a moment—perhaps to dance or step outside. Hours later, you wake up disoriented, your memory blank, and your body violated. This harrowing scenario is an all-too-frequent reality as drink spiking and sexual assault remain pervasive threats in social settings. While there’s no exact number of how many Americans have their drinks or food spiked each year, here’s what we do know about the frequency.
According to RAINN.org, 1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted in college. As for the frequency of being drugged or spiked, an NPR report highlights a research survey of 6,000 college students in 2016. The findings? 1 in 13 college students in the U.S. reported being drugged. Moreover, Alcohol.org conducted a survey of 969 people. The study concluded 44 percent of men and 56 percent of women unknowingly consumed spiked food or drinks. Out of this group, 37 percent had drinks or food spiked multiple times, with over half of these spiking situations having took place while the respondents were in college; 19 percent happened to participants in high school.
But what if the solution to reducing drink spiking and its devastating consequences was as simple as one of these recent inventions?
NightCap: The Drink Cover Scrunchie
Featured on Shark Tank, NightCap is a patented drink spiking prevention device that doubles as a fashionable scrunchie. When not in use, it can be worn in the hair or on the wrist. When needed, it stretches over the top of most glasses to prevent unwanted substances from being added, with an opening for a straw. NightCap is available for purchase on their official website.
While this product offers some level of security, if you walk away from your drink and no friends are diligently guarding it, the scrunchie can be quickly removed, your drink can be spiked by the time you’re back from doing using the bathroom.
SipChip by UnderCover Colors
SipChip is a portable, coin-sized device that tests for common date rape drugs in beverages. Users place a drop of their drink on the chip, and within seconds, it indicates the presence of drugs like GHB and ketamine. SipChip is discreet and easy to carry, making it a practical tool for personal safety.
Drink Test Strips
These are simple test strips that can detect the presence of GHB and ketamine in drinks. Users place a drop of their beverage on the strip, and a color change indicates contamination. They are compact and can be easily carried in a wallet or purse. If there’s any disadvantages with this product, it’s that it only tests for GHB and ketamine; it won’t detect newer or less common substances such as Scopolamine (aka “Devil’s Breath”), a drug increasingly reported in cases of drug-facilitated crimes.
Drink Safe Coasters
These coasters double as drug detection tools. A drop of the beverage is placed on designated spots, and a color change reveals the presence of certain drugs. They are often available in bars and clubs committed to patron safety.
Smart Straws
Smart Straws are designed to detect specific drugs in beverages. When placed in a drink, they change color if common date rape drugs are present. They are single-use and can be a discreet way to test drinks in social settings. However, the single-use is a drawback. Another potential problem: The color change of the straw may not always be easily visible in dimly lit venues. Use your phone’s flashlight app.
My Cup Condom
A product with the catchy slogan, “Before you clink, protect your drink,” this is a silicone-based drink cover designed to fit snugly over cups and glasses. It’s reusable, portable, and discreet, offering protection from tampering and contamination.
These anti-date-rape/drink-spiking products are a welcome innovation. Of course, none of these offerings are 100% guaranteed. The main limitations are the number of drugs they can detect. Nonetheless, any of these products increases vigilance against potential assault. Remain vigilant and don’t let your guard–or drink–down, not even for one second without keeping your eye on it.