Near Real-Time Monitoring of Community Drug Use Trends

Presented by Bikram Subedi, Assistant Professor of Environmental Chemistry, Louisiana State University, and Kevin Armbrust, Louisiana State University, this webinar is part of an ongoing AFDO Cannabis, Hemp, and Natural Psychedelics Committee webinar series.

Date: October 9, 2026

Time: 1-2 p.m. ET

Abstract:

Existing drug surveillance methods for detecting illicit trafficking and abuse face significant challenges due to complex forensic requirements and prolonged administrative delays. The analysis of drug residues in wastewater offers a complementary, cost-effective, and near real-time approach to identifying emerging substances and tracking consumption trends. Wastewater surveillance done by the Department of Environmental Sciences at Louisiana State University across multiple U.S. communities shows distinct consumption patterns, including elevated substance use during major sporting events and celebrations, socioeconomic gradients in drug profiles, and elevated drug consumption among travelers and truck drivers along major interstate highways. Furthermore, the team demonstrated the proactive, early-warning capability of wastewater surveillance by detecting highly potent novel synthetic opioids — such as nitazenes in New Orleans and cyclorphine in rural East Tennessee — well ahead of conventional clinical and regulatory reporting. Overall, potential of wastewater surveillance in providing rapid public health intelligence, mapping spatial and temporal drug trends, and serving as a key early-warning system for emerging chemical threats will be presented.