{"id":5326,"date":"2021-02-22T16:55:32","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T21:55:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.torontonightclub.com\/ca\/?p=5326"},"modified":"2021-02-22T16:55:34","modified_gmt":"2021-02-22T21:55:34","slug":"three-girls-invent-straw-to-detect-date-rape-drugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.torontonightclub.com\/ca\/three-girls-invent-straw-to-detect-date-rape-drugs\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Girls Invent Straw To Detect Date Rape Drugs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Three teenage girls are fighting date rape drugs, using a straw as their weapon. Date rape is a significant problem, particularly with female college students, but a simple straw may help prevent crime. The girls came up with the concept during an entrepreneurship class they attended. They decided to enter their product in the 2017 Miami Herald\u2019s Business Plan Challenge and won first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Victoria Roca, 18, Susana Cappello and Carolina Baigorri, both 17, are all students of Miami, Florida\u2019s Gulliver Preparatory School. The team designed a \u201cSmart Straws\u201d that include two separate test strips that, when placed into a drink, will turn light blue if it detects some substances frequently used for sexual abuse. The Smart Straw can identify the most popular forms of drugs used for date rape, including Ketamine (Special K), roofies (Rohypnol), and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB).<\/p>

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A 2016 study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that date rapes are among the higher number of rape cases. 21% of female college students across nine schools experienced sexual assault since entering college, with most incidents involving the consumption of drugs and alcohol. Women ages 16 to 24 were found the most frequently targeted groups. \u201cBeing young women, I feel like this is a problem that we hear about a lot, especially when we came to high school,\u201d Baigorri said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Smart Straws are a great invention, but it shouldn\u2019t replace the necessary precautions:<\/strong><\/p>

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  • Don\u2019t accept drinks from strangers.<\/li>
  • Make sure to open sealed containers yourself or watch the bartender make your drinks.<\/li>
  • Always keep your eyes on your drink, and if you go to the bathroom, bring it with you.<\/li>
  • Stay away from communal drinks like drinking games, punch bowls, fountains and drink pools.<\/li>
  • Don\u2019t drink anything that smells, looks, or tastes unusual.<\/li>
  • When you plan to get drunk, keep a good friend around who doesn\u2019t drink and can keep you safe.<\/li>
  • If you are starting to feel intoxicated or are having suspicious symptoms, tell a trusted friend.<\/li>
  • Beware of anyone who insists that you drink something, say no, and walk away.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Cappello explained that the team would continue to brainstorm different ways of making the straw even better, including making them eco-friendly and producing various sizes to accommodate different types of drinks. \u201cA glass of Coke may need a longer straw compared to a mojito,\u201d Baigorri added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The girls are working on patenting Smart Straws and speaking with large manufacturers to bring the product to the market. They plan to make it affordable and cheap enough to dispose of. The team is planning to launch a Kickstarter campaign ahead of the official release of the Smart Straws. They are determined to make their business idea a success and want to inspire others to follow their dreams. \u201cWe hope to inspire people who have a business idea to pursue it if one feels passionate it about it,\u201d said Roca.https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2I4QpKEEFDc?feature=oembed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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