This phone might be able to test drug purity through ‘molecular identification’
Illegal drugs are dodgy as hell and thanks to a continued ‘war on drugs’ it’s unlikely this will change anytime soon. But what if you could…
Illegal drugs are dodgy as hell and thanks to a continued ‘war on drugs’ it’s unlikely this will change anytime soon. But what if you could test your party pill for purity with a smartphone?
That’s what Changhong’s new phone, the Changhong H2, can apparently do. The company is even showcasing the phone’s drug-testing abilities at CES 2017, with the phone able to identify the difference between a fake and real viagra pill on the CES show floor
The Changhong H2 uses “SCiO material sensing technology” through a collaboration between Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) and Consumer Physics, Inc and according to Changhong will allow users to “scan material and immediately receive actionable insights based on its underlying chemical composition, exploring their physical surroundings as never before.”
That includes “foods, liquids, medication, body metrics, and much more” and according to Changhong will “give consumers new ways to improve their personal wellness, select the best fruits and vegetables, stick to their diets and nutritional needs, and verify product authenticity in ways never before thought possible.”
Pill testing has become an increasingly contentious issue in Australia, particularly following music festival deaths caused by inconsistent, amateurish illegal party pills.
According to an interview in September 2016 with Amanda Roxburgh, a senior researcher at UNSW’s National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC):
“There has been an increase in numbers of people saying that ecstasy is more readily available, we’ve also see numbers of people increasing saying it’s in higher purity.”
“Some of the Victorian Police seizure data is showing that the crystal form of MDMA is higher in purity and we’re also seeing really large amounts of ecstasy seizures at the border”
The study confirms the inconsistent approach to illegal drug creation, which contributes to local drug overdoses. As Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale said in August 2016:
“Six people in Australia die each day due to overdose. It’s devastating for families, it’s entirely preventable, and our country’s politicians need to find the courage to do what they can to prevent further harm.”
“Needle and syringe programs, supervised injecting rooms, pill testing — these are all evidence-based harm reduction measures that the government should resource.”
Technology such as the sensor Changhong is using in its H2 device, with an “integrated, miniaturized near-infrared spectrometer”, could allow users to self-test legal or even illegal drugs, as well as spiked alcoholic drinks.
If the sensor were to see a wider release, particularly through a more popular smartphone, it could also eventually save lives.
Gloss has reached out to Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale, Changhong and UNSW senior researcher Amanda Roxburgh for comment. This story will be updated if they get back to us and each response will be published on Twitter.
