Vila Real distributes bracelets that detect drugs at an academic party

Cinco thousand bracelets that detect the presence of drugs in drinks will be distributed during the party "Calhairada às Montes", in Vila Real, a bet on prevention and reinforcement of security that unites chamber, university and PSP.

“ This is a bracelet that lets you know if the drinks you're drinking are tampered with. Very simple, in the drink, in this sensor, if it keeps the color there is no problem strictly, if there is a change to green or slightly yellowish, in a preventive way, it is better not to consume this drink ", explained Alexandre Favaios, mayor of Vila Real.

The mayor spoke with students in the tent of “Caloirada às Montes”, located at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, where, on Thursday evening, bracelets began to be distributed to students in the context of the local campaign “Royal Villa, safe night – the fun is yours, prevention is everyone’s”.

The academic feast began on Tuesday, with the traditional serenade, and extends until Sunday, during which time about 5,000 bracelets will be distributed, an investment of 5,000 euros.

Each bracelet can be used for five days if no color change occurs.

“ Be serene, safe and healthy nights”, said Alexandre Favaios.

Joana, 19 years old and a second year Animal Science student, considered this a “good initiative” especially for girls.

“ Sometimes we go out and don’t know very well what can expect us and this is good for us, to help us”, he said.

Beatriz, 21 and a fourth-year-old in veterinary medicine, was drinking beer and experimented with the bracelet.

“ I think it's a very good initiative that makes us feel safer, not just the girls, but everyone else, and especially because it's free. I think it's great. I tried, the color did not change and I continued to drink because of it ", said.

The Celentis bracelet is a prevention tool that allows us to identify, in an indicative way, the possible presence of certain substances associated with chemical submission in beverages.

Just a small drop of the drink in the sensor and if the color changes to dark green is because it is tampered with the presence of liquid GHB (‘ecstasy’). The yellow and orange color identifies burundanga, ketamine or catinones.

Alexandre Favaios stressed that this “continues to be a safe city” and that this is “a preventive mission”.

The initiative of the Vila Real House has the partnership of the Academic Association of UTAD (AAUTAD) and PSP.

“ This initiative is extremely important, because we want to have a fun environment here, but we want to have a safe environment for our students. We are talking about freshman week, they are first year students and many of them are in Vila Real with a freedom that they did not have until now, they are out of the house and it is essential that actions like this happen,” said João Barroso, rector of UTAD.

The president of AAUTAD, Eduarda Fernandes, explained that “Caloirada às Montes” is a night event, designed for students and where there is access to drinks.

“ This initiative aims, above all, to raise awareness and alert the dangers, not to leave the glass unattended. And while we are making this warning, we feel that it will also have the deterrent effect of those who might have the intention of adulterating someone’s glass”, said the student.

The subintendent of PSP Paulo Andrade said that the police have not heard of occurrences associated with alcohol tampering in Vila Real, but stressed that the slogans are prevention and security reinforcement.

“It’s not just fun, but it’s also responsibility and prevention and that’s where the police come in,” he said, highlighting the role of PSP in preventing risk behaviors.