Teens invent straw that detects date rape drugs, win business contest

Three teenagers created a straw that could detect the presence of GBH and ketamine in drinks. Three teenagers created a straw that could detect the presence of GBH and ketamine in drinks. Photo: Rosana Galão / EyeEm/Getty Images Photo: Rosana Galão / EyeEm/Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Teens invent straw that detects date rape drugs, win business contest 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

(Editor note: There are other, earlier variations on the Smart Straw concept including one previously developed by the company DrinkSavvy, however, other versions of the straw have not yet gone into production.)

Three teenagers are being praised for a straw they invented to detect the presence of date rape drugs in drinks.

Susana Cappello, Carolina Baigorri and Victoria Roca of Florida took first place in a business plan competition (on the high school level) held by the Miami Herald, after presenting a straw they said could detect two common drugs used in assaults — GHB and Ketamine. These drugs often do not have a smell or taste to them, making them difficult to detect when slipped into a drink.

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The straws developed by the teens contain two test strips that turn blue when dipped into a drink that contains a date rape drug. The teens are hoping their straws will be able to detect other drugs in the future.

"Being young women, I feel like this is a problem that we hear about a lot, especially when we came to high school," Baigorri said in an interview with Inside Edition. "It's such a common problem. Statistics say it's one in every five women [that experiences rape], which is so many people."

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The three students said they plan to market their product — for now dubbed "Smart Straw" — to the college-age crowd, and are looking to make an inexpensive product that bars, college organizations, and students can easily carry or distribute.

"My older sister is at university where there were reports of date rape drugs being used," Capello told news site A Plus.

"My friends and I knew we needed to come up with a simple solution to test for drugs. I remember my dad always says 'the best ideas are the ideas that help people,' so we just thought of a simple, easy, inexpensive solution — Smart Straws."

Cappello, Baigorri and Roca currently have a patent pending for the design and are looking to start crowdfunding to help launch their product.