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Some gruesome statistics about rape culture in America, is that a woman is sexually assaulted every two minutes. Further, 1 in every 4 college women have been sexually assaulted, 60% of rapes are never reported and 97% of rapist never go to jail for their crimes.  The statics are very alarming  and raises the question of what are we doing to prevent and educate our young men and women about rape.  While the following step is not the end all be all of rape prevention, it is a unique approach.

The approach that I speak of, is a nail polish that can detect date rape drugs in one’s drink called Undercover Colors.  It was created by a brilliant group of students at North Carolina State University.  According to a recently publish post on Cosmopolitan, one simply needs to stir the drink with their finger and if their drink has been spiked, their nail polish will in turn change colors.

The polish will detect three of the most common used date rape drugs, GHB, Xanax, or Rohypnol.  So far, the students have received $250,00 in investments and hope to have the polish on the market soon.  However, the nail polish is still in the testing phases.  Perhaps due to the creativity and efforts of  Ankesh Madan,  Tasso Von Windheim, Stephan Gray and Tyler Confrey-Maloney, many women will be able to prevent themselves from being sexually assaulted.

Just to be clear,  I acknowledge the fact that we live in a society that victim blames, and puts the prevention of rape and/or sexual assault on women, whereas it should be placed on those doing the assaults.  However, whatever measures that we as women can take to protect ourselves, I am all for it and hopefully this polish will drive some of those statistics down.