Site-specific assessment of illicit drug consumption patterns in South Korea via wastewater-based epidemiology.
Water research December 1, 2025 Yasar Arafath Sharfudeen, Minjin Kim, Donghyun Kim et al.
Methamphetamine was the most frequently detected drug in South Korean wastewater, with the highest consumption at a casino (18 mg/day/1000 people) and in certain rural areas with a high proportion of foreign residents (up to 32 mg/day/1000 people). Amphetamine was predominantly found in U.S. military areas (16 mg/day/1000 people), consistent with therapeutic use. The airport showed the greatest drug diversity, including elevated levels of MDMA, ketamine, and cocaine. Two novel psychoactive substances, 25D-NBOMe and 25E-NBOMe, were identified for the first time in South Korean wastewater, exclusively at the casino. These site-specific patterns highlight the value of wastewater-based epidemiology for targeted public health strategies.