According to a recent study by The University of Queensland's Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, seven new psychoactive substances have been detected in Australian wastewater, including narcotics that mimic MDMA and cocaine.
News.com.au reports that the chemicals were detected during the New Year periods of 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22, when researchers believe drug use rose owing to partying.
Researchers Find Similar Chemicals Overseas
The study analyzed wastewater from 47 cities in Europe, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, China, Brazil, and the Republic of Korea.
The new psychoactive substances (NPS) compounds discovered were created to replace banned substances, which means they have a slightly different molecular structure to stay ahead of the law.
They are typically produced in lower amounts than traditional illegal narcotics, making it harder for law authorities to control their distribution.
According to Dr. Richard Bade of the University of Queensland, wastewater analysis of these new drugs could assist in detecting, monitoring, and controlling the hazards associated with the substances.
He also mentioned that wastewater analysis was a low-cost and ethical tool for organizations and governments to track drug use patterns and the global movement of drugs.
The study also discovered an upsurge in similar drugs in Europe, particularly in Spain and Slovenia, where 3-methylmethcathinone levels were high.
Dr. Bade expressed concern about music events, where NPS-laced drugs could be consumed inadvertently. This can raise the risk of overdosing, leading to increased emergency room visits.
Drug Overdose Cases in Australia
Government data reveals 1,842 registered drug-induced deaths among Australians in 2020, an average of 5 deaths per day. While the initial estimated rate of drug-induced deaths in 2020 was 7.2 per 100,000 Australians, it is expected to increase.
Adjusting for age and changes in population size, the rate of drug-induced deaths has fluctuated over the years, peaking in 1999 at 9.1 deaths per 100,000 people before declining sharply in the early 2000s. However, the rate rose to 8.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2017.
It also stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had had an impact on drug supply and demand, raising serious concerns regarding potential changes in drug-related harms since the outbreak of the pandemic.
According to the wastewater study, however, Covid restrictions had little impact on drug usage. Despite surveying throughout the pre-pandemic period, as well as periods when countries faced severe restrictions (2020-21) and reduced restrictions (2021-22), the study revealed "little difference in the total number of NPS detections." However, during the 2020-21 period, levels were lower.
After a successful six-month pilot that extended until August 2023, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has started government-run pill testing at music events and fixed sites in Queensland.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath stated that the tool was about "harm minimization" and did not promote drug use.
"It is important to note that pill testing services do not promote that drugs are safe," D'Ath said.
"However, they are among a suite of options that can positively affect outcomes regarding illicit drug use. Pill testing services will inform people what chemical substances are in their drugs," she added.
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