Albury, NSW leading 'world-first gold standard' to combat drink spiking

Australian Community Media

Albury venues are the first in Australia to introduce a rapid drink spiking test, capable of detecting drugs like GHB and Ketamine in under five minutes. Here's how the SureScreen Diagnostics test works and where it's available.

Transcript

00:00Recently, the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research released its report

00:05for drink spiking data, and between September 2014 to October 2024, reported incidents have

00:12risen up to 140 per cent, with a 10 per cent increase just in the last year alone.

00:18Furthermore, call proceedings within 30 days for drink spiking incidents remain at an average

00:23of just 1.6 per cent over that same 10-year period.

00:28Hotspots for spiking in New South Wales include Newcastle, the Central Coast, Sydney City,

00:34Greater Sydney, with Wollongong amongst the worst affected areas.

00:38Over the past seven years, New South Wales has launched several awareness campaigns,

00:43advising people to watch their drinks, not to leave your drink unattended, and to look

00:48out for your mates.

00:49But despite these efforts, drink spiking incidents continue to rise, and a more innovative, effective

00:55solution is required.

00:57Now recently, Shorescreen Diagnostics has developed the world's first lateral flow test

01:02for the rapid detection of common substances used in drink spiking.

01:06This test now enables bar staff and security to act swiftly, mitigate and intervene any

01:12suspected beverage tampering incidents.

01:15The test detects GHB, ketamine and 22 different types of benzodiazepines, including rehypnol.

01:22A small beverage sample is taken mixed with an extraction buffer, and three drops are

01:27applied to each of the two sample weathers.

01:30The sample migrates upward through a capillary reaction, producing immediate results.

01:35The rapid beverage test provides clear, rapid results without false positives caused by

01:41tonic water, lagers, grenadine, red wines or fruit juices.

01:47The sensitivity is over 10 times greater than the previous technologies we've seen for detecting

01:53ketamine at lower concentrations, and performs even higher with benzodiazepines with a much

02:00greater sensitivity.

02:02The test is based on the same highly sensitive drug detection technology used for forensic

02:07urine analysis, and we've transferred this technology into a beverage safety device.

02:13So unlike other devices that rely on high limits of detection and may miss harmful substances

02:18at lower doses, the Shorescreen Diagnostics device measures these substances at the one-thousandth

02:25of a microgram per milliliter, offering a much-needed layer of protection, particularly

02:30for those individuals with lower body mass.

02:33You cannot quantify the number of would-be offenders that the rapid test would deter

02:38once rolled out within the night-time economy.

02:42The Albury Liquor Accord is leading the way as the first local government to implement

02:46the MRBT into their venues.

02:49If we trust lethal flow technology for public health control, then why not use the technology

02:53to protect vulnerable people out having a great night from this cowardly crime, especially

02:59young women?

03:01Liquor and gaming are aware of the test and its applicability of implementing it for effective

03:06harm minimisation strategies to address alcohol and other drug-related crimes within our communities.

03:13Previous measures have proven insufficient, and overlooking this opportunity to introduce

03:18a real solution not only falls short of the public's expectations, but it really doesn't

03:24pass the pub test.

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