Screening for new psychoactive substances in wastewater from educational institutions

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Forensic Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Drug (ab)use among young people is a significant public health concern.
• New psychoactive substances (NPS) pose increasing risks due to unknown identities and toxicity.
• Traditional drug detection methods in schools have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the occurrence of NPS in educational institutions using wastewater analysis.
• To evaluate the viability of wastewater analysis as a tool for monitoring NPS in schools.
• To compare wastewater analysis with traditional drug testing methods.

Main Methods:

• Wastewater samples were collected from primary, secondary, and higher educational institutions in two Slovenian municipalities.
• Samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-ion mobility-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-IMS-HRMS).
• New psychoactive substances (NPS) were identified using a suspect screening approach with a large entry list.

Main Results:

• NPS were detected in wastewater from all types of educational institutions surveyed.
• Synthetic stimulants, including 3-MMC, ephedrine, 4-chloro-α-PPP, and ethcathinone, were unequivocally identified.
• Wastewater analysis revealed the presence of NPS but did not show clear inter-institutional trends.

Conclusions:

• Wastewater analysis is a viable non-invasive method for detecting NPS in educational settings.
• This approach can serve as an early warning system for NPS presence in schools.
• Wastewater analysis shows potential as a replacement for traditional, invasive drug testing methods in educational institutions.