A team of five 12th-grade students from Colégio de Santa Doroteia in Lisbon has developed a product designed to detect spiked drinks.
The product, named Cindy-Up, aims to protect individuals at parties and other social events from drugs or substances commonly referred to as ‘Boa noite, Cinderela’.
The Cindy-Up consists of strips made from biodegradable material that, when placed in drinks, indicate the presence of unwanted substances that cause unconsciousness through a fluorescent coloration.
The mini-company Cindy-Up, established by Carlota Pereira, Raquel Almeida, Sofia Sousa, Joana Rodrigues, and Maria Ramos, recently received a leadership award at an entrepreneurship festival held in Athens, Greece.
Joana Rodrigues, one of the students, stated that the project was developed as part of the optional course ‘Inspira-te, Faz e Cria’ and quickly gained attention due to “the increasing number of cases involving spiked drinks and the severe consequences for those affected.”
Having “friends and family” who experienced such situations motivated the students to create this project.
Future steps are being planned. After identifying the most commonly used drugs for spiking drinks (ketamine, GHB, and MDMA) with authorities’ assistance and selecting reagents to detect these substances with a biology teacher’s help, and designing the product with an arts teacher, the students are now seeking investors for further development.
Joana Seguro also explained that the long-term goal is to “promote a mindset change, leading society to understand that the danger is not solely in bars and that personal safety should not be a source of embarrassment.”
The website Tua Saúde describes ‘Boa noite, Cinderela’ as a mix of alcoholic drinks with drugs or medications used to render a person unconscious and facilitate sexual assault, kidnapping, or theft.
These substances, when dissolved in alcohol, cannot be identified by taste, and after a few minutes, the effects begin, making the person behave as if drunk, impairing consciousness and memory.
‘Boa noite, Cinderela’ is illegal and considered a crime, occurring most frequently at parties, raves, or similar environments, primarily affecting women.
Effects of ‘Boa noite, Cinderela’ on the body
The primary effects of ‘Boa noite, Cinderela’, according to the same source, include:
- Slurred, slow, and confused speech;
- Nausea;
- Intense drowsiness;
- Decreased reasoning and reflex capacity;
- Muscle weakness;
- Reduced attention;
- Lack of discernment between right and wrong;
- Unawareness of what is being said;
- Deep sleep.
What to do if you suspect you’re a victim of this scheme
If you suspect being a victim, immediately speak to a trusted person and seek medical help.
If possible, bring the drink or glass you were consuming when feeling unwell, to assist healthcare professionals in identifying the substance.
It is also advisable to report the incident to authorities.
