April marks Sexual Assault Awareness month. At Clemson, this has been commemorated with events like the Take Back the Night Walk as well as a viewing of the movie “The Hunting Ground.” The month is typically dedicated to alerting the public to these events. And while a part of the month is also dedicated to making sure that the public knows of preventative tips, not all of them are effective. This is the case with trying to spot spiked or “roofied” drinks, which up to a third of men said would use to date rape women according to an article with Health Research Funding.
The Drink Detective tries to prevent these occurrences.
The kit was created by Colin Lyon to sense the chemicals found within roofies and other drugs.
“Using amine-based detection strips that change color when they come into contact with drug-tainted alcohol, Drink Detective is taking back the night from criminals,” according to a press release by NotOnMyDrink, the company that manufactures the product. If the drink is not contaminated, the drink is still safe to have.
“The FDA does not need to approve it because with our technology, we are not adding chemicals, thus preventing a contamination from the core substance,” Lyon said.
This is because a cotton swab is inserted in the drink before using the kit.
With 23 percent of women sexually assaulted on campus, according to a CNN article, Lyon believes that the need for a product is necessary.
“This product is needed now more than any ever. There is a real and genuine demand, a real concerted effort to education and raise awareness [to “roofied” drinks”], because it as a major problem in universities and colleges in all countries,” Lyon said.
Taylor Johnson, a sophomore management major, supported the use of the Drink Detective, stating that: “As long as the product is safe and meets FDA standards, then it should be able to be used. I hope there have been a lot of studies done on it so that there are no potential harms too. … I would use it just to ensure my safety.”
However, Johnson did have issues with the product. 
“It has a chance to help reduce sexual assault, but that’s one large problem that has many sides to it. … it may reduce the numbers, but I don’t see a huge change in the problem.”
Jennifer Goree, director of Healthy Campus, expressed a similar sentiment.
“It is important to remember that alcohol is the number one weapon of choice for perpetrators of sexual assault.  So while I think this product could be useful under certain circumstances, it could also be misleading to students.”
The Drink Detective can be picked up at walmart.com, along with notinmydrink.com.

Gallery • 1 Photos

Photo contributed by Colin Lyon.

Colin Lyon, CEO of the Netherlands-based Drug Lab 118, developed Drinking Detective, a new, patented drink spiking detection kit.