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EXCERPT: "Wastewater from five secret locations across Tasmania is being examined in a search for ice hot spots under a new program overseen by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
The Tasmanian study is funded by part of a $3.6 million grant from the Coalition Government to the commission.
The program is testing for traces of methylamphetamine (known as ice), MDMA and cocaine, with additional scope to monitor non-medical use of pharmaceuticals and psychoactive substances in urine and human waste.
“Data obtained will highlight communities with high illegal usage, the drug types that are most common and emerging drug markets,” a spokeswoman for Justice Minister Michael Keenan said.
The investigative work will be carried out by the Queensland-based National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, in partnership with the University of South Australia.
The research builds on previous work done by University of Tasmania researcher Jeremy Prichard.
Mr Keenan said the study would collect real-time data on drugs being used within communities across all Australian capital cities and a number of key regional centres."
Read the full article at:
Gold Coast Bulletin: Secret Sewer Drug Tests as Part of Hunt for Ice Hot Spots
Editor's note: NDEWS' November 2016 webinar featured a discussion of Wastewater Testing as a Drug Epidemiology Tool.
