(MOBILE, Ala.) - University of South Alabama Campus Police are raising awareness about date rape drugs, and giving students a tool to protect themselves against them.
Aramark and the USA Police Department purchased Date Rape Drug Detector coasters to distribute to students. Police Chief Zeke Aull said the coasters, made by Drink Safe Technolgy in Lexington, Alabama, can detect more than 250 date rape drugs.
"We're promoting these as just a tool," Aull said Thursday. "There's nothing better than common sense when you're out and about, but this is another tool that we hope can prevent something serious like date rape."
The user can place a few drops of their drink on the test circle of the coaster, and, in seconds, will know if the drink has been tampered with. The test circles will turn blue if it detects a drug.
Aull said though he has not had an incident involving date rape drugs on campus since he's been there, he said the threat is out there.
"We're approaching the Mardi Gras season, spring break," Aull said. "Our students will be traversing from the Alabama Coast to the Florida Coast and who knows where else."
USA Junior Amy Habert said she plans to distribute the coasters to her sorority sisters, and other Greek organizations.
"We like to always stick together for sure," Habert said, "but using the coasters is just another way that we can make sure that we're all safe.
"It's just another reminder that these things really do happen and not just on TV."
Students can pick up the Date Rate Drug Detector free of charge at the campus dining hall.
