Sewage Water as a Promising Source of Information about Narcotic Drug Consumption and Production

Abstract

Purpose: To review the prospect of monitoring population consumption of psychoactive substances using a new approach — monitoring of psychoactive substances in wastewater. Research method: the review is based on information from online databases using Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and eLibrary. Conclusion: the capabilities of the method in detecting drug labs and new psychoactive compounds are evaluated as promising and deserving of further study and implementation. Scientific and practical significance: the accepted definitions and characteristics of this method are given, the most well-known examples of the use of this method in Asian, American and European countries are described, the possibilities of the method in obtaining objective information on the consumption of psychoactive substances in different populations (places of detention, educational institutions, at sporting events, etc.), which can be scaled up to settlements and entire regions, are considered.