Illicit drugs in Brazil: environmental consequences and consumption patterns

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Forensic Chemistry
• Public Health

Background:

• The consumption, distribution, and environmental impact of illicit drugs in Brazil are significant public health and environmental concerns.
• Geographical disparities exist in research, with the Southeast region showing the most studies and the North/Northeast regions the least.
• Limited research is available in border states, despite their proximity to illicit drug production sources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze the literature on illicit drug consumption, street analysis, distribution, and environmental impacts in Brazil from 2018-2023.
• To examine the findings of the III National Survey on Drug Use regarding population contact with drugs.
• To identify trends in analytical methodologies and environmental contamination levels.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of national and international journals (2018-2023).
• Analysis of the III National Survey on Drug Use data.
• Evaluation of analytical techniques, including green chemistry and chemometrics.
• Assessment of environmental concentrations of drug metabolites in aquatic environments and biota.

Main Results:

• The Southeast region, particularly São Paulo, dominates research on illicit drugs in Brazil.
• Analytical methods increasingly incorporate miniaturization, green chemistry, and statistical tools.
• Cocaine and cannabis metabolites are frequently detected in aquatic environments (0.01-2000 ng L⁻¹).
• Bioaccumulation of drug metabolites was observed in marine biota (up to 4.58 µg kg⁻¹ in mussels and sediments), indicating ecological risk.
• Illicit drug use is increasing, especially among young Brazilians.

Conclusions:

• There is a growing trend of illicit drug consumption in Brazil, with significant environmental consequences.
• Further research is needed, particularly in understudied regions and border areas.
• Advanced analytical methods are crucial for effective monitoring and risk assessment of illicit drugs in the environment.