Population surveys compared with wastewater analysis for monitoring illicit drug consumption in Italy in 2010–2014

Zuccato, Ettore; Castiglioni, Sara; Senta, Ivan; Borsotti, Andrea; Genetti, Bruno; Andreotti, Alessandra; Pieretti, Giovanni; Serpelloni, Giovanni

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.02.003

Cited by 56 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In most of the countries where several locations were studied (BE, NL, DE, CH, ES), population-normalized loads were higher in large cities compared to smaller towns (Supporting information, Appendix S2). This pattern had already been reported by Ort et al [9] and had been observed in national studies in BE [22], FR [23], IT [24], CH [25] and FI [26].…”

Section: Cocainesupporting

confidence: 85%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Spatio‐temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from 7 years of international wastewater monitoring

González-Mariño¹,

Baz-Lomba²,

Alygizakis³

et al. 2019

Addiction

Self Cite

184

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background and aims Wastewater‐based epidemiology is an additional indicator of drug use that is gaining reliability to complement the current established panel of indicators. The aims of this study were to: (i) assess spatial and temporal trends of population‐normalized mass loads of benzoylecgonine, amphetamine, methamphetamine and 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in raw wastewater over 7 years (2011–17); (ii) address overall drug use by estimating the average number of combined doses consumed per day in each city; and (iii) compare these with existing prevalence and seizure data. Design Analysis of daily raw wastewater composite samples collected over 1 week per year from 2011 to 2017. Setting and Participants Catchment areas of 143 wastewater treatment plants in 120 cities in 37 countries. Measurements Parent substances (amphetamine, methamphetamine and MDMA) and the metabolites of cocaine (benzoylecgonine) and of Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (11‐nor‐9‐carboxy‐Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol) were measured in wastewater using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Daily mass loads (mg/day) were normalized to catchment population (mg/1000 people/day) and converted to the number of combined doses consumed per day. Spatial differences were assessed world‐wide, and temporal trends were discerned at European level by comparing 2011–13 drug loads versus 2014–17 loads. Findings Benzoylecgonine was the stimulant metabolite detected at higher loads in southern and western Europe, and amphetamine, MDMA and methamphetamine in East and North–Central Europe. In other continents, methamphetamine showed the highest levels in the United States and Australia and benzoylecgonine in South America. During the reporting period, benzoylecgonine loads increased in general across Europe, amphetamine and methamphetamine levels fluctuated and MDMA underwent an intermittent upsurge. Conclusions The analysis of wastewater to quantify drug loads provides near real‐time drug use estimates that globally correspond to prevalence and seizure data.

show abstract

Section: Cocainesupporting

confidence: 85%

“…This pattern had already been reported by Ort et al . and had been observed in national studies in BE , FR , IT , CH and FI .…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 64%

Spatio‐temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from 7 years of international wastewater monitoring

González-Mariño¹,

Baz-Lomba²,

Alygizakis³

et al. 2019

Addiction

Self Cite

184

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Among synthetic drugs, every user reported having a lifetime history with MDMA and used it the most frequently in accordance with studies that, in Italy, see consumption increasing, especially in the north of the country and especially on weekends [21]. Similar to other surveys [39], our study sample reported frequent use of more traditional illicit drugs, particularly cocaine, along with the use of more synthetic drugs.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…These findings suggest, in line with the EMCDDA report [10], that a general increase in synthetic drug use is related to night-time loisir. In fact, the use of MDMA increasing over the weekends and decreasing on weekdays [21] suggest a relationship between the "darkness world" of nightlife and the consumption of synthetic drugs. Another important phenomenon, common among many subcultures including ravers, is the polydrug use of narcotic substances.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Club Drugs and Rave Parties: A Pilot Study on Synthetic Drug Consumption Styles in a Sample of Young Italian Ravers

Biolcati¹,

Mancini²

2018

TOPHJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction:So-called club drugs, psychoactive substances by definition related to rave and private parties culture, have a strong social impact in terms of health risks, especially for their spread among adolescents and young adults. In addition, polydrug use is a common pattern of consumption in some subcultures, such as the ravers culture. This study explores characteristics, consumption profiles, contexts of use, motives, and levels of satisfaction with life in a sample of synthetic/hallucinogenic substance users.Methods:We administered an ad hoc questionnaire to 37 Italian participants (62.2% males) recruited through several rave events in the city of Bologna.Results/ Conclusions:The results showed that consumers choose substances belonging to the same “family,” such as methamphetamines (MDMA and speed) and psychedelic substances (ketamine and LSD), for specific and contextual motives. The findings are discussed in light of the target sample’s socioeconomic conditions, consumer profiles, features of the rave context, and dissatisfaction with some areas of life.

show abstract

“…Estimating the consumption of illicit drugs by the analysis of wastewater (wastewater‐based epidemiology, WBE) is a well‐known approach currently applied in several countries . This methodology is used to better understand the drug phenomenon at global level by institutions such as the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, and the New Zealand Police .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Profiling cocaine residues and pyrolytic products in wastewater by mixed‐mode liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

González-Mariño

Estévez-Danta

Rodil

et al. 2019

Drug Testing and Analysis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This work provides a new analytical method for the determination of cocaine, its metabolites benzoylecgonine and cocaethylene, the pyrolytic products anhydroecgonine and anhydroecgonine methyl ester, and the pharmaceutical levamisole in wastewater. Samples were solid‐phase extracted and extracts analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using, for the first time in the illicit drug field, a stationary phase that combines reversed‐phase and weak cation‐exchange functionalities. The overall method performance was satisfactory, with limits of detection below 1 ng/L, relative standard deviations below 21%, and percentages of recovery between 93% and 121%. Analysis of 24‐hour composite raw wastewater samples collected in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) and Brasilia (Brazil) highlighted benzoylecgonine as the compound showing the highest population‐normalized mass loads (300–1000 mg/day/1000 inhabitants). In Brasilia, cocaine and levamisole loads underwent an upsurge on Sunday, indicating a high consumption, and likely a direct disposal, of cocaine powder on this day. Conversely, the pyrolytic product resulting from the smoke of crack, anhydroecgonine methyl ester, and its metabolite anhydroecgonine were relatively stable over the four days, agreeing with a non‐recreational‐associated use of crack.

show abstract

Population surveys compared with wastewater analysis for monitoring illicit drug consumption in Italy in 2010–2014

Cited by 56 publications

References 15 publications

Spatio‐temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from 7 years of international wastewater monitoring

Spatio‐temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from 7 years of international wastewater monitoring

Club Drugs and Rave Parties: A Pilot Study on Synthetic Drug Consumption Styles in a Sample of Young Italian Ravers

Profiling cocaine residues and pyrolytic products in wastewater by mixed‐mode liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About