--- title: GHB Date Rape Drug Can Now Be Seen in a Drink with Fluorescent Sensor description: Scientists in Singapore have developed a simple way to see if someone has tampered with your drink canonical: https://time.com/43804/date-rape-drug-is-now-detectable-by-a-fluorescent-sensor/ author: Eliana Dockterman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-03-31T15:57:09.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T08:55:04.901Z og:title: GHB Date Rape Drug Can Now Be Seen in a Drink with Fluorescent Sensor og:description: Scientists in Singapore have developed a simple way to see if someone has tampered with your drink og:url: https://time.com/43804/date-rape-drug-is-now-detectable-by-a-fluorescent-sensor/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb1a34785a288d915/6986882d169ab0b0ff27886c/coctail-club.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: coctails og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: GHB Date Rape Drug Can Now Be Seen in a Drink with Fluorescent Sensor twitter:description: Scientists in Singapore have developed a simple way to see if someone has tampered with your drink twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb1a34785a288d915/6986882d169ab0b0ff27886c/coctail-club.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'Date Rape' Drug Is Now Detectable By a Fluorescent Sensor  by [Eliana Dockterman](https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Correspondent Mar 31, 2014 3:57 PM UTC  A picture taken on July 11, 2013 shows cocktail drinks in a bar in Paris. AFP PHOTO / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD (Photo credit should read KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images) A picture taken on July 11, 2013 shows cocktail drinks in a bar in Paris. AFP PHOTO / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD (Photo credit should read KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images)Kenzo Tribouillard—AFP/Getty Images  by [Eliana Dockterman](https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Correspondent Mar 31, 2014 3:57 PM UTC Scientists have created a new, brightly colored way to detect if a drink has GHB, commonly known along with Rohypnol (or roofies) as a date rape drug. Researchers at the National University of Singapore have created a liquid that, when mixed with a beverage containing GHB, changes into a fluorescent color in less than 30 seconds. GHB can cause unconsciousness and even seizures after being consumed. Like Rohypnol, the drug is colorless, ordorless and tasteless and thus easy to hide in alcoholic drinks. Though people can test for GHB on paper ([some campuses are even testing special coasters](http://www.secureoncampus.com/Date-Rape-Drug-Test-Coasters-s/73.htm) that can tell if a sample of a drink has GHB when poured on the coaster), the researchers believe this new method will be faster, simpler and more obvious (thanks to the bright orange color your drink turns if tainted). 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