Due to risks of experiencing sexual attacks, people nowadays are advised to be vigilant and cautious when going to bars or unfamiliar neighborhoods. A company called Undercover Colors has developed a nail polish that can detect date rape drugs.
The Rohypnol-sensitive nail varnish was developed by four male engineers from North Carolina State University as part of their school project. It changes color when exposed to beverages with date rape drugs such as GHB and Rohypnol.
"Simply dip your finger into a verified beverage, and within seconds the presence of prevalent date rape drugs will be identified in color change," the company website states.
Undercover Colors has released a cover photo teasing consumers about the arrival of the drug-detecting polish. The makers from North Carolina State University first announced their plans in 2014 but received criticisms from several social media platforms such as Huffington Post saying that not all sexual assaults occur in bars.
The company website says "one in six women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime" and that "this unthinkable problem has reached epidemic levels on college campuses. And something must be done about it." The founders aim to give women the power to protect themselves. One of Facebook fan said "can't wait for this to go commercial. It shouldn't have to exist, but we can do whatever possible to keep each other safe."
This project has received massive investments worth $5.5 million from 49 supporters. Investor David Gardner has said that he considers the polish as a "game changer" as "it's shifting the fear back on the perpetrators and it's too good of a thing not to deserve a backing and a chance."
The date rape drug detecting nail polish is expected to arrive on the market in early 2017.