Traces of cocaine, ecstasy and crystal meth found in sewage

Whilst the authorities were expecting to discover cocaine and ecstasy in their drugs analysis of sewage, they were more than a little surprised to find traces of crystal meth.

Source : rtl.lu
Date de publication : 19/10/2019

A new study by the National Health Laboratory (LNS), carried out in cooperation with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), was presented on Friday, and demonstrated that a lot of cocaine and ecstasy is consumed in the Grand Duchy. Samples were taken from a purification plant in Pétange and analysed in a laboratory to ascertain what substances were consumed. The conclusions drawn from this process supported information from the police regarding drug consumption.

Dr Alain Origer, of the Ministry of Health, said that samples taken near the Abrigado centre, for example, would not be representative of the whole population. Many recreational users, such as the stereotypical cocaine-sniffing banker, would not be consuming the drug at a location such as Abrigado, therefore any traces of this usage would be more likely to turn up in sewage samples.

Drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy are often found in sewage water - these are also substances which are regularly seized by police or customs officials. The presence of crystal meth, a substance which is rarely seized, was all the more surprising.

LNS' Dr Serge Schneider said he often told people that crystal meth wasn't used in Luxembourg, but now admitted he was evidently wrong in his estimations following the discovery.

Compared to other European countries, Luxembourg's cocaine use is higher than average, consumed by 1,000 residents a day. The same applies to MDMA, or Ecstasy. However, the sewage analysis does not show how many people consume drugs and also does not provide information on the quality of the substances.

The traces of the drugs discovered at the purification plant did not pose a danger to citizens.

LIST and LNS researchers hope to carry out further analysis on different areas around the country, specifically in the wake of festivals.

Claudia Kollwelter

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