Before The Hangover was released in 2009 and main character Doug was found on the roof of Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, I admit that I had never heard of Roofalin. Although Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis poked fun at the drug, Roofalin, or Rohypnol, is a seriously hardcore tranquilizer.
Nicknamed “roofies," Roofalin is referred to as the “date rape drug" because it's paralyzing effect makes victims incapable of refusing sexual assault. College students, especially girls, are always told to keep a close watch on their drinks so drugs like this can not be slipped into it.
Want to take even more caution from roofies? Get a manicure and protect yourself from sexual predators! Four North Carolina State University students developed a nail polish that detects common date rape drugs by changing color in their presence. The polish line is called Undercover Colors.
In order to check her drink for drugs, the girl must stir her finger around it. If her nail polish color changes, a drug is present. Similar inventions have been made to do this, like coasters and straws, but Undercover Colors creators found that nail polish would be more popular because of its prevalence among women.
Although this nail polish sounds like a great idea in theory, rape prevention activists oppose the product. Girls that aren't wearing the nail polish could be criticized for not taking preventative measures. The innovative idea sounds interesting, but could be taking away from the magnitude of the situation. Should people be making profits off of rape prevention?
The students are succeeding in their efforts to create a rape prevention nail polish and some investors are enthusiastic about the idea. Maybe one day OPI or Essie will buy this product, and college students will live in a safer environment.
