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Spatial differences and temporal changes in illicit drug use in Europe quantified by wastewater analysis.
- Source :
-
Addiction (Abingdon, England) [Addiction] 2014 Aug; Vol. 109 (8), pp. 1338-52. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 May 27. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Aims: To perform wastewater analyses to assess spatial differences and temporal changes of illicit drug use in a large European population.<br />Design: Analyses of raw wastewater over a 1-week period in 2012 and 2013.<br />Setting and Participants: Catchment areas of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across Europe, as follows: 2012: 25 WWTPs in 11 countries (23 cities, total population 11.50 million); 2013: 47 WWTPs in 21 countries (42 cities, total population 24.74 million).<br />Measurements: Excretion products of five illicit drugs (cocaine, amphetamine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, cannabis) were quantified in wastewater samples using methods based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.<br />Findings: Spatial differences were assessed and confirmed to vary greatly across European metropolitan areas. In general, results were in agreement with traditional surveillance data, where available. While temporal changes were substantial in individual cities and years (P ranging from insignificant to <10(-3) ), overall means were relatively stable. The overall mean of methamphetamine was an exception (apparent decline in 2012), as it was influenced mainly by four cities.<br />Conclusions: Wastewater analysis performed across Europe provides complementary evidence on illicit drug consumption and generally concurs with traditional surveillance data. Wastewater analysis can measure total illicit drug use more quickly and regularly than is the current norm for national surveys, and creates estimates where such data does not exist.<br /> (© 2014 Society for the Study of Addiction.)
- Subjects :
- Amphetamines analysis
Amphetamines metabolism
Cannabinoids analysis
Cannabinoids metabolism
Chromatography, Liquid
Cocaine analysis
Cocaine metabolism
Environmental Monitoring statistics & numerical data
Europe epidemiology
Humans
Illicit Drugs metabolism
Mass Spectrometry
Methamphetamine analysis
Methamphetamine metabolism
N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine analysis
N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine metabolism
Sewage chemistry
Substance Abuse Detection statistics & numerical data
Substance-Related Disorders metabolism
Time Factors
Waste Disposal, Fluid methods
Waste Disposal, Fluid statistics & numerical data
Water Pollutants, Chemical analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical chemistry
Environmental Monitoring methods
Illicit Drugs analysis
Population Surveillance
Sewage analysis
Substance Abuse Detection methods
Substance-Related Disorders epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1360-0443
- Volume :
- 109
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Addiction (Abingdon, England)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 24861844
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/add.12570