The objective of NOSUM project is to develop and evaluate an easy-to-use kit that allows the youth to be able to identify whether γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has been spilled in a drink of any nature or not.
GHB, also known as liquid ecstasy, is used as a recreational drug for its euphoric and socializing effects, but it causes drowsiness and, above all, it cancels the will of the person who ingests it, which causes a loss of consciousness of reality.
This compound, in addition, is rapidly metabolized in the body and is not detected in the blood or urine through systematic toxicological analyzes, so when the victim realizes what has happened and goes to a center for health, the drug is likely to be virtually undetectable, and proving chemical submission can be very difficult.
For this reason, GHB is one of the chemical substances most used in crimes intended to nullify the will of the victims.
The kit will allow detecting a change in color and/or fluorescence in those drink samples that have been adulterated. The sensor developed by MODeLiC works with both alcoholic and carbonated beverages, even when they are mixed. The kit is currently being improved to facilitate portability and use.
The final goal of the project is to make quick detection kits available to the whole society. However, the data shows that 93% of the victims are women. For this reason, during the development of the project we aim to at young women between 18 and 28 years old to get directly involved.
For the initial phase of the project, 150 women university students, between the ages of 15 and 29 will be selected for the initial phase of the project. The selected people will participate in an open training session in which they will receive 3 quick detection kits.
If you want to be up to date with the news of the project, you can follow us on https://www.instagram.com/proyecto_nosum/. We will inform you when we start the selection phase of volunteers to participate in the study.
Funding: 94.198,68 €
Duration: 2021-2022