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Doubts cast over rape drug detectors

By Nicola Jones

19 October 2002

WOMEN should not trust the test devices designed to detect date rape drugs in their drinks. Police tests have found that the devices are plagued with problems that could render them useless.

Companies around the world are working on paper coasters or drinks stirrers that change colour when dabbed with a drink doctored with a date rape drug. These colourless and odourless tranquillisers can lull victims into a semi-comatose state, leaving them unable to remember what happened to them.

Florida company Drink Safe Technologies has sold 50 million paper coasters that can detect at least two such drugs – ketamine…

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