The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 58

THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER NATION E4 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2002 Date-rape drug detector may backfire 1 ft i Experts: Coasters give mixed results By Margie Mason The Associated Press SAN JOSE, Calif. Colleges around the country are buying millions of coasters that test for "date-rape" drugs in drinks. But some experts say the coasters are ineffective and could lead to more assaults by creating a false sense of security. The manufacturers who also make fake snow and party foam say the 40-cent paper coasters are 95 percent accurate. The coasters have test spots that are supposed to turn dark blue in about 30 seconds if a splash of alcohol contains drugs often used to incapacitate victims.

In tests at the Michigan State Police Crime Lab, however, the coasters failed to react clearly to drinks spiked with gamma hydrox-ybutyrate, a major date-rape drug known as GHB, said forensic sci- safe and effective, they are a good prevention tool. "I've had 100 people say this saved them from getting raped," said Mr. Guerra, a former magician. A federal task force recently estimated that college drinking leads to an estimated 70,000 sexual assaults or rapes annually. The coasters' labels promise they will help "identify the presence of illicit drugs in beverages." But in response to questions from The Associated Press, co-inventor Brian Glover, a New York dentist who dabbles in chemistry, acknowledged that the coasters can identify just two of the many date-rape drugs GHB and ketamine.

There are 36 drugs on the street classified as date-rape drugs, too many for police field tests to detect, said Trinka Porrata, a retired Los Angeles detective who is an authority on GHB. The Drug Enforcement Administration advises against putting faith in tests that cannot keep up with the constantly changing chemistry of illegal drugs. Iril The Associated Press Sarah Lively, 24, (left) and Michelle Coler, 21, test their drinks for date-rape drugs at the Britannia Arms pub in San Jose, Calif. 4 I i In hi 1 1 Mill entist Anne Gierlowski. "We tested red wine, cola, whiskey and orange juice and because three out of the four have color already, it was very hard to decipher a color change," she said.

"It's a nice idea, but it's probably a nicer idea for the people selling them because they've probably made a lot of money." Plantation, Drink Safe Technologies Inc. has sold about 50 million of the coasters since March, mostly to colleges and convenience stores, said president Francisco Guerra. Mr. Guerra likens the coasters to condoms: While not 100 percent as low as $27,222 ffNFINITI 1200 I OF CINCINNATI CA 513.583 IPfTE LBBEHTGEMERML mttt DM TMKrSUB mm icopjspas. me savings 1 kow Teaiunng mi Sale starts Saturday! ShirK maintenance-free jfePerma-look cabinet l.iUfePerma-look cabinet tilt OjKjyl 1 30 Off any size 41.96 to 55.96 Matelasse coverlets.

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