Stylish nails will provide safety from date rape drugs that are a serious threat to our generation's women at bars and clubs.
A strange combination? No doubt. But four NCSU students are creating a nail polish that can detect popular date rape drugs.
It is as simple as sticking the tip of your finger in your drink and seeing if the nail polish changes color. The name of this new product generating media buzz is Undercover Colors. The polish can detect drugs such as GHB or Rohypnol.
It's rumored that there are some big investors interested in the product and the founders of Undercover Colors have found support in many different places. The concept of a date rape detector that is easily disguised isn't new, but this specific product is the first to generate this much attention nationwide.
There has not been any official statement made about when the product will be on the market or the status of production, but people have a lot to say about the polish. Some feedback has been negative, saying that this does not solve the root of the problem of date rape and sexual abuse against women. Others believe that this would be a significant step in the right direction.Â
The majority of women like the idea of a nail polish detecting the drug because it is less obvious than other detectors that have been invented. No one wants to take out a straw or stirrer at the bar just to see if their drink was spiked. Dipping your finger in your drink casually before sipping it draws less attention and offers the same protection.
Inventing a nail polish to detect date rape drugs does not solve the problem of sexual assault against women. But the invention of security systems didn't solve the problem of burglary either. The nail polish would allow women to feel safer about drinking around others.
Despite some of the backlash regarding the usefulness of this product and what it aims to prevent, the founders are standing firmly behind their company. CEO Tyler Confrey-Maloney said they are not the only ones working to solve the problem, they are simply taking it on from a new angle.Â