Water research X
May 1, 2023
Richard Bade, Nikolaos Rousis, Sangeet Adhikari et al.
47 citations
An international wastewater surveillance program analyzed influent samples from up to 47 sites in 16 countries between 2019 and 2022, detecting 18 new psychoactive substances (NPS) across at least one site. Synthetic cathinones were the most common class, followed by phenethylamines and designer benzodiazepines. Two ketamine analogues, the plant-based NPS mitragynine, and methiopropamine were also quantified. Use varied by region: mitragynine mass loads were highest in US sites, eutylone increased in New Zealand, and 3-methylmethcathinone rose in several European countries. The ketamine analogue 2F-deschloroketamine emerged recently and was quantified in sites including one in China, where it is considered a drug of most concern. Some NPS initially detected in specific regions spread to additional sites over time, demonstrating that wastewater surveillance can reveal temporal and spatial trends in NPS use.
Environment international
August 1, 2023
Nikolaos Rousis, Richard Bade, Iván Romero-Sánchez et al.
33 citations
During New Year celebrations and a summer festival in a large Spanish city, wastewater samples revealed high consumption of both new psychoactive substances (NPS) and traditional illicit drugs. Eleven NPS—including synthetic cathinones, benzodiazepines, plant-based NPS, and dissociatives—plus seven illicit drugs were detected across both events. Consumption peaked at each event, and drug use patterns shifted markedly over the six months between them. Statistically significant differences were observed for 3-MMC, eutylone, cocaine, MDMA, heroin, and pseudoephedrine when comparing the two events or a normal week. Wastewater-based epidemiology offers a cost-effective, timely, and ethically straightforward way to monitor drug use and complement public health surveillance.
Journal of hazardous materials
September 5, 2024
Shuo Chen, Richard Bade, Ben Tscharke et al.
6 citations
Methamphetamine use in Melbourne was increasing before the first lockdown in 2020 and decreased after it ended. During the second lockdown, methamphetamine trends remained steady before rising steeply after restrictions lifted. Cocaine use stayed steady for most of 2020 and increased after the second lockdown. MDMA use decreased after the first lockdown and remained low through 2020 and 2021. In 2021, stimulant use was less variable and less tied to COVID-19 restrictions than in 2020. The findings show how lockdown periods and social restrictions affected illicit stimulant consumption in one of the world's most locked-down cities.