Korean researchers have developed a tattoo to detect the presence of GHB in drinks. How does it work?
The Kyong-Cheol Ko team, of the Korean BioScience and Biotechnology Institute, has developed a molecule, the Bhei. It creates a hydrogen link with the GHB and thus changes color, going from yellow to red. This compound detects the presence of GHB in a second, so it seems very effective. There were already devices capable of revealing the GHB, but the reaction time was longer. The tattoo would be inexpensive and the researchers hope that it can be used massively in places at risk such as bars and nightclubs.
Can this tattoo really be effective in fighting chemical submission?
In the reality on the ground, this tattoo has little use, in France at least, for several reasons. The statistics of the ANSM (the national drug safety agency) show that GHB is not the most used substance in France for chemical submission [moins de 5 % des cas]. It is more present in other countries such as the Netherlands or the Scandinavian countries. It is an anesthetic who puts the victim to sleep, but it requires a large amount of product, at least 2 grams, to have an effect. It also has a salty taste and a vomiting effect. The attackers are rather turning to other substances such as drugs, such as antihistamines H1 or benzodiazepines, for which a few milligrams are enough. Beyond having little use in France, this tattoo only covers a substance. Dozens of tattoos should be covered, each for a specific molecule! Or, more reasonably, a tattoo should be designed that detects a panel of molecules.
Such products already exist, bracelet or varnish. Are they truly effective?
These products will never completely protect against chemical submission. As with tattooing, they will never detect the entire molecules used. The best way to protect yourself is to pay attention to your glass and put a lid on glass type top to prevent a substance from being added to its drink.
Distributing them in bars, festivals or nightclubs would have only a minimal utility. Especially since it should be noted that the vast majority of cases of chemical submission that we deal with in legal medicine do not take place in these festive frameworks. It is almost never the scenario of a stranger who drugs a person outside and brings him home. Most often, it happens in a private setting, with people who know each other and trust each other. The usefulness of these devices is therefore quite limited.
What are the signs that someone is under the effect of chemical submission?
Unfortunately, there are no symptoms or universal signs. It depends on the products used, whether it is an exciting ecstasy type (MDMA) or synthetic cathinons or an anesthetic. We will however note an alteration of behavior. The person will have an attitude and reactions that come out of the ordinary at home. For example, a person who is sleepy after two glasses while usually this is not the case. It is not possible to be sure without testing, but relatives, friends or family, can detect a change in behavior.
What to do when you suspect chemical submission?
At first, the person must be extracted from the potentially dangerous situation. In a bar or nightclub, it is to take out the person and put them in safety. In a private setting, we are not going to lie, it is more complicated, even sometimes impossible.
Once the person is extracted, it must be quickly accompanied by the emergency room, to follow their state of health and ensure that it does not worsen. But also to do tests and know if a product has been administered and which one. The faster the greater care, the greater the more to detect the presence of molecules.
The GHB is detectable from 6 to 8 hours in the blood and from 10 to 12 hours in the urine. For substances that are generally used in France, the detection window is larger. They can be detected up to 5 days after taking according to the medication. Furthermore, the analysis of the victim’s hair is very useful to retrace the past …