Assessment of illicit drug use in Seoul, the capital of South Korea for 21 days by wastewater-based epidemiology.

Over 21 days, wastewater from Seoul, South Korea, was analyzed to track 22 illicit drugs. Ten drugs were detected; methamphetamine appeared consistently. Ketamine showed the highest estimated consumption rate at 47.5 mg/day per 1,000 people, followed by methamphetamine at 12.5 mg/day per 1,000 people. Daily patterns for methamphetamine and MDMA were relatively stable, with coefficients of variation of 7.03% and 13.4%, respectively. No statistically significant differences in drug consumption were found between weekends and weekdays. However, significant regional differences emerged for methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine, linked to average annual income and education levels.

Study at a glance

Abstract

22 illicit drugs were monitored in Seoul, the capital of South Korea for 21 days using wastewater-based epidemiology to assess the drug usage patterns for the first time by region and social status. Among the targeted compounds, 10 were detected, with consistent detection of methamphetamine in samples over the entire sampling period. In addition, ketamine had the highest estimated consumption rate at 47.5 mg/day/1000 people, followed by methamphetamine at 12.5 mg/day/1000 people. Methamphetamine and MDMA(3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) exhibited relatively stable daily patterns, with coefficients of variation of 7.03 %, and 13.4 % respectively. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were observed between weekends and weekdays for all compounds (Mann-Whitney Rank Sum test, p > 0.05). Statistically significant regional differences in drug consumption were observed for methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine (Mann-Whitney Rank Sum test, p < 0.05). These differences were found to be related to average annual income and educational levels.