Brussels-Lisbon: Europe and the Arabs
  The latest results from the largest European project in the science of wastewater analysis and medicines have been published - a multi-city European study, published by the SCORE group Europe-wide, in cooperation with the European Medicines Agency (EMCDDA) based in Lisbon, Portugal. According to a press release, we received a copy From the European Medicines Agency The rise in cocaine detections in around 50 European cities takes center stage in this year's study, continuing the upward trend observed since 2016. For the first time, international data is presented (for example from Brazil, New Zealand and the United States). ) and make comparisons with European study sites.
According to the statement, the project analyzed wastewater in 88 European cities from 24 countries (23 European countries + Turkey) to explore drug use behaviors among their residents. The study analyzed daily wastewater samples in wastewater treatment plant catchment areas over a one-week period between March and May 2023. Wastewater samples from approximately 55.6 million people were analyzed for traces of five recreational drugs (cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy/ Ecstasy). ecstasy and ketamine) as well as cannabis.
Along with the continued rise in cocaine detections, the latest results show a new spike in MDMA detections, after a mixed picture in the previous analysis. For amphetamine and cannabis, contrasting patterns are observed, while for methamphetamine, more than half of the cities reported a decrease in detections. Although results varied widely across study sites, it is noteworthy that all six of the illicit drugs investigated were found in almost every participating city. Compared with previous analyses, less difference in drug use habits between large and small cities was observed for some drugs.
The SCORE group has been conducting annual wastewater monitoring campaigns since 2011, in which 19 cities from 10 countries participated and four stimulant drugs were studied. 73 cities have participated in at least five annual wastewater monitoring campaigns since 2011, allowing time trend analysis.