About the Date Rape Detector Bracelet: Beware, villain, before you slip a date rape drug into a woman's drink [INTERVIEW]

Women can finally feel safer, as a team of Portuguese-Spanish scientists has invented a "magic" bracelet that will eliminate the risk of falling victim to a sexual offense, which can occur if someone slips GHB or another incapacitating substance to a victim. Girls will be safer, parents of minors will have peace of mind, and event organizers, police, prosecutors, and courts will be relieved, as the number of rapes could drop significantly. All of this comes at a ridiculous cost, so it's worth considering whether this should be financed by public funds or the event organizers, or whether it should be passed on to potential victims and their loved ones.

It's vacation time. Many people are happy about the beautiful weather, delicious food, entertainment until dawn, and excellent company. However, this excellent company can be a mixed bag, especially when our relationship is still in its infancy, having just spontaneously met someone.

Then, at an outdoor event, a beach party, a concert, a club meeting, or any other place where people indulge in a spirit of celebration, we may unfortunately encounter people who have no good intentions towards us. Instead of the joy of meeting someone new, it sometimes ends in a sad ending that can lead to lifelong stigmatization.

A painful price for carelessness is sometimes sexual crimes, whose victims are usually women. Rapes are the most common. Many of these dramatic cases occur when the perpetrator, taking advantage of the victim's unconsciousness, slips GHB, commonly known as the "date rape drug," into her alcoholic beverage.

This substance is highly insidious because it is odorless, colorless, and quickly metabolized in the body. Therefore, by the next day, even if we decide to pursue the perpetrator legally, it may be too late, as the substance has largely been flushed from the body, and not everyone knows how to test for GHB in the body.

Prevention is always better than dealing with the consequences of adverse events. Fortunately, there's a solution for women and others affected. A team of Portuguese-Spanish scientists has just invented a bracelet that detects GHB and other chemicals that incapacitate the body.

In a matter of seconds, we can assess whether, for example, while we were away from the table to use the restroom, someone had slipped GHB or some other "dirty" into our drink. Simply touch the bracelet soaked in the drink with a straw to check if everything is alright. The green color the bracelet turns should be a warning signal that under no circumstances should we continue drinking.

Perhaps it's time for event organizers to ensure the highest standards of safety for event attendees? It's not a huge expense, as just a few zlotys will make women feel much safer. After all, it's not the cost of half a drink at an average club.

Even if the organizers were reluctant, any sensible parent of a teenage girl could, at their own expense, equip their child with a "magic" bracelet. This would give them peace of mind, as the mere sight of it should deter potential miscreants from their daughter.

Marcin Kuchciakow and Carlos Lodeiro Y Espiño, who led a group of researchers from the Iberian Peninsula, thanks to whom women received appropriate weapons to ensure their safety, told him exactly how things are.

Carlos Lodeiro Y Espiño , professor at the Department of Chemistry and principal investigator at the LAQV-REQUIMTE research unit at the Portuguese university A Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (NOVA FCT), especially for the readers of politykazdrowia.com.

Marcin Kuchciak: First, congratulations on the invention of a paper wristband that detects GHB (liquid ecstasy) and other plant-based substances whose ingestion can lead to problems, including loss of consciousness, for intoxicated individuals. These chemicals are sometimes referred to as drug-facilitated sexual assaults (DFSAs), or incapacitating substances used in drug-assisted sexual assaults.

Many people think that the research process is like pulling a rabbit out of a top hat. However, this isn't the case. Research is a process that requires a great deal of dedication and attention to detail.

In my opinion, it is sad that in a world dominated to some extent by celebrities who do not contribute to the development of human civilization, and at the same time believe that they have the competence to speak on all topics, the voice of scientists is lost in this crowd of superficial and often false information.

Please tell us what the invention process for the bracelet was like? How long did it take? What were the capital expenditures? Who funded the research? What were the biggest challenges the Portuguese-Spanish team of researchers you led encountered during the process?

MK: How does the wristband you invented work? What illegal substances does it detect?

MK: The project, developed in collaboration with the University of Valencia and Celentis, has already resulted in a joint patent and two scientific publications. Your innovative device is currently being commercialized in Spain. The next step is its introduction to the Portuguese market. How are sales going in Spain? What are the next steps for commercialization in other countries? When can we expect it to reach Poland?

MK: At politykazdrowia.com, we often write about new discoveries in drugs and medical devices. In many cases, these require approval from various biopharmaceutical regulators (e.g., the US FDA or the European EMA). Does the wristband your team has invented for detecting GHB and other harmful substances also require a special path for consumer approval?

MK: What's promising about your wristband is that it can be used multiple times. For example, the weekend is coming up. A girl wants to party at nightclubs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The wristband works for five days from the first test, unless we get a positive result (it turns green), in which case we have to wear a new detection device.

MK: I recently spoke with American lawyers working at one of the most respected law firms in the US. Let me offer you their perspective, which might be interesting, considering they are the ones defending DFSA suspects in court. We discussed the effectiveness of various detection techniques, but only in relation to GHB.

The discussion was so intense that at one point we staged a mock trial, with them defending three DFSA suspects and me playing the judge. The case involved a 15-year-old girl who was gang-raped after unknowingly consuming a soft drink laced with GHB while she was using the restroom.

Please guess what the first question was from the suspects' defense attorneys?

MK: The attorney first wanted to rule out the victim's voluntary use of GHB. So he asked the 15-year-old if she was using Xyrem. Xyrem, or sodium oxybate, is sometimes used to treat narcolepsy, alcohol abuse, and withdrawal symptoms.

MK: Later, the lawyers continued to try to prove the case in the suspects' favor. They asked the girl if she had recently had access to gammabutyrolactone (GBL), which is identical to GHB but can also be used for other purposes besides intoxicating substances, such as removing stains, rust, and superglue. The victim denied having access to GBL. The evidence was later reviewed, as the suspects pleaded not guilty.

MK: The problem facing law enforcement, investigators, and healthcare workers is that GHB metabolizes rapidly, with a half-life of only 30-60 minutes. The body eliminates half of the ingested dose within 60 minutes, and the rest within 2-5 hours.

There are many methods for detecting the presence of GHB in the human body: urine testing (GHB is detected within 12 hours of ingestion), blood testing (detection possible within 72 hours), saliva testing (GHB detectable within 6 hours), and, perhaps most reliably, hair testing (GHB can be detected within 90 days). There's also the nail test, but according to my American lawyers, there's no reliable test on the market suitable for legal proceedings.

Scientists from Bristol recently reported on the possibility of using colorimetry using smartphones – link: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/news/researchers-develop-new-method-to-detect-date-rape-drug-in-drinks

And now we have a discovery in the form of your paper wristband. What competitive advantages does the technology you invented have over other detection methods?

MK: I'm still wondering about the issue of whether the results of your bracelet analysis will be recognized by the court. What should be done to ensure that the courts recognize the bracelet readings as valid evidence in the DFSA? Are you in any talks with the authorities in Portugal or Spain on this matter? I'm referring to the police and the justice system. What do they concern?

MK: I visited the website of Nan@rts, which commercially distributes the wristbands you invented. They come in three sizes – 19 x 250 mm, 22 x 250 mm, and 25 x 250 mm. They can be customized to include information related to the entertainment event, such as QR codes with instructions or NFC technology for purchases at concerts and festivals. They also have free areas for sponsor logos or advertising. While visiting the website, I found a product presentation – link: https://www.nanoarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Sensor%20Drogas%20NOVA%20FCT-%20BIOSCOPE%20UV.pdf – which shows that 3 in 10 women in the EU have experienced sexual assault. A third of these cases involved the administration of chemical substances.

However, I couldn't find any information about the price of the wristband on the website. Is online delivery from Portugal available for Polish customers?

MK: Thank you for the interview.