The EU has compiled a record-breaking survey of waste water in search of lessons about Europeans’ drug habits. By far the highest concentrations of amphetamine were found in the Swedish cities that participated in the survey. Last year, the EU drug agency EMCDDA collected analyzes of waste water from 104 cities in 21 European countries to investigate and compare the drug habits of its inhabitants. The compilation, which has been carried out annually since 2011, included the Swedish cities of Gävle, Sandviken and Söderhamn for the third year in a row. The samples have been collected during one week in the spring of 2022 by the authorities in the respective cities. They have subsequently been analyzed for amphetamine, cannabis, ketamine, cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine. Sweden at peak of amphetamine The absolute highest levels of amphetamine in relation to the population were found during the measurement period in Gävle and Sandviken, followed by cities in Belgium and Germany. Also in 2020 and 2021, the Swedish cities’ levels of amphetamines were among the highest measured. A potential source of error in sewage measurements is that it is not always possible to distinguish between illegal and legal drugs – for example ADHD medication that contains amphetamine. Cocaine levels were highest in cities in Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands. By far number one was the port city of Antwerp – a major hub for cocaine smuggling into Europe. That brings up another possible source of error, namely that not all the drugs in the wastewater have necessarily been consumed. Cocaine that is flushed down the toilet during a police raid can, for example, cause the measured value to skyrocket. Narcotics in Denmark Methamphetamine produced by far the highest results in the Czech Republic. Cannabis levels were highest in Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland. MDMA, in turn, was most common in cities in the Netherlands and Belgium. The highest levels of the anesthetic ketamine, investigated for the first time, were measured in Denmark. Cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine were more common in larger cities and occurred to a greater extent on holidays, according to the EMCDDA an indication of more recreational use. The levels of amphetamine and cannabis were more evenly distributed throughout the week. According to the EMCDDA, differences between cities in the same country can be related to the presence of universities, nightlife and the age structure of the population.
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Waste water reveals: Swedish cities at the top of amphetamines in Europe
