Drug prevention is something that cost this country and others tons of money each year. Parents worry about their children using drugs and the government worries about everyone using drugs. Well, there’s now something to aid their worry. Universal Sensors has developed a new product that would allow parents and police officers to test people for drug use just using saliva. The Vantix biosensor technology works by taking a swab from the inside of the mouth and placing it into a device that then reads it. The results are then spit back to the users within five minutes. The tester can trace the smallest amounts of drugs and even tell how much the person who consumed the drugs has taken. This will revolutionize drug testing, because before drug testing was a lengthy process that was not done with ease. It is also more accurate than the sobriety test that are currently out there. The tester is about the size and resembles cell phone. Both articles mention it being mostly used on cocaine, and cannabis.The test is also affordable, costing around two dollars per test.
This device is obviously going to have controversies, especially in terms of parents using them. Yes, drugs are illegal, but depending on the age of the child, it could be a major invasion of privacy. I would also like to see a parent shove a swab into their child's mouth, especially if they are on some sort of drug. On the other hand, with police using it could become a good thing because of the safety issues involved with driving under the influence. Drugs were often not tested for before in drunk driving stops, because the procedure took too long. The Telegraph article is written in a British perspective (as it is a British newspaper) and they give the fact that drug driving contributes to three percent of deaths on British roads, I can imagine that in America the death toll is similar, if not larger.
Universal Sensors is also urging the device to be used in detection of deadly bacteria, like MRSA. Which would be great since those type of bacteria can have devastating effects.
Awesome, it'll make it much easier for the law enforcers to pull drug users from driving and from the streets. With this tech, fighting crime just got more convenient for police officers.
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ReplyDeleteAlthough this seems like a great idea, I can see so many flaws in it. Especially with the test of marijuana use. As most people know it stays in your system for about a month and if you are tested and came up positive when you haven't used the drug in many days you will be wrongly convicted. Also, the issue of privacy gets me as well.
ReplyDeleteThis product could definitely be extremely beneficial to the police when they need to do a quick drug test. When it comes to parents using this device, I don't think it is such a good idea. Maybe this product should only be sold to officials with a legitimate need for it.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to children’s privacy, I see it as being no more difference than that of a breathalyzer, which I do believe parents can buy if they wish. When it comes to our law enforcement, I am all for anything that helps the police figure out exactly what is happening in a situation. I only wonder how accurate this device is. A breathalyzer can pick up the small amount of alcohol in certain cold medicines. Considering any sort of alcohol use as a mine gets you in trouble, this could be a problem. Remembering the myths about how you could test positive on a drug test from eating to many poppy seeds, I would be afraid that an officer would pull me over for being stupid (it has happened before), and I would end up in prison because I ate the wrong kind of muffin that morning. I think I would have to learn about this device and it’s capability a little more before I support it being up into implementation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jessica that testing for marijuana is difficult because of how long the drug remains in your system. Also my concern that because of the ease of testing that it might become too common place and they will start drug testing for unnecessary reasons in unnecessary places.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a revolutionary device that has many people saying, "finally" and many saying, "crap". Kids are going to hate this device, parents are probably going to end up hating it too once they use it on their kid. Police are probably going to have a field day with this too.
ReplyDeleteNow instead of having to find clean urine, people are going to be asking around for clean spit. That's gross ... Also, taking a swab off the inside of a cheek gives you DNA, too. I don't want my clone assassinating foreign officials for the government, without my knowledge and just compensation.
ReplyDeleteThe major issue I see presented here is that in marijuana testing. A lot of people who don't smoke but are around it because of friends or whatever would probably be more apt to test positive if this device is actually more accurate. Also, I see no point in extra drug testing except for those who are under the influence and driving because with most drugs you aren't posing to be a threat to anyone else.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Jess and Fletcher. Marijuana false positives would be so common, would it really be that effective?
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