Canadian researchers develop stir stick to detect spiked drinks in seconds

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a discrete new tool to guard against drink spiking and date rape.

It’s a small stir stick, dubbed Spikeless, that can detect common drugs secretly slipped into drinks such as gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and ketamine. It gives results within seconds.

“Anywhere there’s a bar — clubs, parties, festivals — there’s a risk,” Samin Yousefi, UBC master’s student and co-inventor, said in a news release. “People have tried cups, coasters, straws, even nail polish to detect these drugs. Our device is more discreet than existing alternatives and doesn’t contaminate the drink.”

Drugs used to spike drinks are typically colourless and odourless. Many people don’t know their drink has been drugged until it’s too late. The problem is widespread, and women and gender-diverse people are victimized more often than men. A recent study that surveyed young people found one in 10 women reported experiencing drink spiking.

The UBC-developed stir sticks have tips coated in a chemical that changes colour when it detects a harmful drug in a drink. It works on both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The sticks are single-use and intended for use in large venues such as bars, restaurants, and music festivals.

Researchers hope venues will keep the stir sticks on hand to shift responsibility for preventing date rape and assault away from victims.

“Prevention has often focused on individuals, but research and long-standing community health practices show us that these approaches don’t work,” Sasha Santos, an expert in public health and violence prevention, said in a news release.

Chemical and biological engineering professor Dr. Johan Foster first came up with the idea for the stir stick in 2011 with his brother Andrew. The team has spent the last three years developing their prototype and is now preparing for real-world testing while launching a startup to produce more of them.

“If people feel safer because a venue offers Spikeless, that’s a competitive advantage,” Foster said.