18 new psychoactive drugs found in world’s waste water, analysis reveals
- Samples taken from 47 cities in 16 countries including the US and Australia revealed the substances, according to research by the University of Queensland
- ‘It is imperative to monitor the use of these drugs [for] their effects, how they interact with other drugs, and the harm they cause’, researcher Dr Bade said
A three-year international waste water surveillance programme has detected more than a dozen new psychoactive drugs across 16 countries.
Samples taken from 47 cities in 16 countries including the United States and Australia revealed 18 new psychoactive substances, according to research published in the journal Water Research X.
Richard Bade from the University of Queensland, who led the research, said that the new psychoactive substances are drugs designed to mimic the effects of established illegal drugs.
“These substances are synthesised to replace banned substances, which means they have a slightly different molecular structure to stay ahead of the law,” Dr Bade said.
“They are generally manufactured in smaller quantities than traditional illicit drugs, making it difficult for law enforcement to control the circulation.”
Dr Bade said that researchers found seven new substances in Australia alone “which all have a similar effect to MDMA or cocaine”.