Problems of Forensic Sciences 2009 Vol. 80 (LXXX) 459-470
TESTS USED FOR DETECTION OF DATE-RAPE DRUGS IN DRINKS
Piotr ADAMOWICZ, Maria KAŁA
Institute of Forensic Research, Kraków, Poland
Streszczenie
The use of drugs to facilitate sexual assaults has become a problem in many countries. Fear of these crimes has created a need for inventions that reduce the risk of becoming a victim. This paper describes commercially available drink test kits. The tests, which are marketed internationally, are used for detection of the most popular date-rape drugs at potentially incapacitating concentrations. Drink Safe Technology products detect ketamine and GHB, whereas the Drink Detective Tester can identify ketamine, GHB and benzodiazepines. The first Polish commercial drink test can only detect GHB. Date rape tests for benzodiazepines, which were originally used for their detection in urine, are also available. The drink tests have many limitations, including detectibility limited to a few drugs associated with sexual assaults, dependence on drink type (colour, alcohol), worse performance in field settings and possibilities of gaining false positive or negative readings. The use of drugs to facilitate sexual assaults has become a problem in many countries. Fear of these crimes has created a need for inventions that reduce the risk of becoming a victim. This paper describes commercially available drink test kits. The tests, which are marketed internationally, are used for detection of the most popular date-rape drugs at potentially incapacitating concentrations. Drink Safe Technology products detect ketamine and GHB, whereas the Drink Detective Tester can identify ketamine, GHB and benzodiazepines. The first Polish commercial drink test can only detect GHB. Date rape tests for benzodiazepines, which were originally used for their detection in urine, are also available. The drink tests have many limitations, including detectibility limited to a few drugs associated with sexual assaults, dependence on drink type (colour, alcohol), worse performance in field settings and possibilities of gaining false positive or negative readings.
The use of drugs to facilitate sexual assaults has become a problem in many countries. Fear of these crimes has created a need for inventions that reduce the risk of becoming a victim. This paper describes commercially available drink test kits. The tests, which are marketed internationally, are used for detection of the most popular date-rape drugs at potentially incapacitating concentrations. Drink Safe Technology products detect ketamine and GHB, whereas the Drink Detective Tester can identify ketamine, GHB and benzodiazepines. The first Polish commercial drink test can only detect GHB. Date rape tests for benzodiazepines, which were originally used for their detection in urine, are also available. The drink tests have many limitations, including detectibility limited to a few drugs associated with sexual assaults, dependence on drink type (colour, alcohol), worse performance in field settings and possibilities of gaining false positive or negative readings.
Słowa kluczowe
Date-rape drugs; Drug-facilitated sexual assault; Date-rape drug tests