An interactive lesson in acid/base and pro-drug chemistry using sodium gamma-hydroxybutyrate and commercial test coasters.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a classroom activity that applied pertinent pharmaceutical concepts to examine the use and limitations of a commercially available test drink coaster in detecting the presence of a date-rape drug, sodium gamma-hydroxybutyrate (NaGHB), in beverages.


METHODS
An activity exercise involving a combination of self-study, hands on participation, and classroom discussion was developed. Topics incorporated into the activity were drug-assisted rape, the concepts of false positives and negatives, and prodrug and pH chemistry.


RESULTS
Based on questionnaires completed by the students, the intended concepts were reinforced and students demonstrated an increased awareness of the potential shortcomings of the commercial test devices. The activity was well received by the majority of students.


CONCLUSIONS
The developed activity stimulated student awareness and interest in several principles relevant in pharmaceutical education, including drug-assisted rape, consumer-based drug testing of NaGHB, and the chemical basis for its limitations. The activity requires no special equipment other than the drink coasters and can be easily completed in one 2-hour classroom session.
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Nathaniel A
NA
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
Paganelli
Meaghan
M
Boje
Kathleen M K
KM
Fung
Ho-Leung
HL
D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000737:chemistry; D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000737:chemistry*; D001628:Beverages; D002072:Butylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000737:chemistry*; D011934:Reagent Strips / Q000737:chemistry*; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000737:chemistry*
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D002072:Butylene Glycols; D011355:Prodrugs; D011934:Reagent Strips; D012978:Sodium Oxybate; C039681:1,4-butanediol; D015107:4-Butyrolactone