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Europe-wide surge in wastewater detections of cocaine and ketamine

There have been‘ strong increases’ in cocaine and ketamine detections in European wastewater analysis, according to the latest report from the Europe-wide SCORE group in association with EUDA. The project, which analysed wastewater in 115 cities across 25 countries, also found a‘ marked decline’ in MDMA residues.

Samples from a population of 72m people were analysed for traces of amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine, ketamine, MDMA and methamphetamine, between March and May last year. Despite varying results it is‘ noteworthy that all six drugs investigated were found in almost every participating city’, the researchers state.
Cocaine loads in wastewater increased by 22 per cent between 2024 and 2025 across the cities that reported data for both years, with detections highest in western and southern Europe – particularly Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. Late last year outgoing EUDA executive director Alexis Goosdeel said the exponential increase in cocaine production and trafficking had developed into‘ an unprecedented phenomenon’, with the drug‘ more accessible, more affordable and more potent’ across Europe than ever before.
Ketamine loads, meanwhile, increased by more than 40 per cent in cities reporting data for both years – predominantly in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. MDMA loads fell by 16 per cent – a sharper decline than in 2020, when nightlife venues were closed because of COVID – with the fall most noticeable in Germany, Austria and Slovenia.
‘ Europe’ s wastewater tells the story of a drug phenomenon that is widespread, varied and in constant flux,’ said EUDA’ s executive director Dr Lorraine Nolan.‘ Wastewater analysis helps us track these shifts early to better understand where attention and resources are needed and to inform evidencebased public health and policy responses across Europe’.
Wastewater analysis and drugs— a European multi-city study available at euda. europa. eu
' Europe’ s wastewater tells the story of a drug phenomenon that is widespread, varied and in constant flux.'
DR LORRAINE NOLAN

Drug executions highest ever

Local News

RIPPLE EFFECT A new film featuring counsellors talking about their work at the SHARP community rehab programme in Essex has been released by the Forward Trust. The video shows‘ how vital the treatment programmes are to the local community’, with the‘ ripple effect’ supporting not just service users but their families and others. Film at https:// www. youtube. com / watch? v = dYrg--iHGII
INSIDE STORIES WithYou has kept the contract to provide treatment services in HMP Lincoln and HMP North Sea camp, the charity has announced.‘ We’ re incredibly proud of our teams in the two prisons whose dedication, hard work and care has changed the lives of so many of the men they’ ve worked with,’ said head of service delivery Vicki Carter. euda. europa. eu
AT LEAST 1,212 PEOPLE WERE EXECUTED FOR DRUG-RELATED OFFENCES last year, according to the latest analysis by Harm Reduction International( HRI) – a‘ catastrophic’ 97 per cent increase on 2024’ s total of 615, and the highest number since monitoring began two decades ago.
More than 950 of the executions were carried out in Iran, averaging almost three per day. Punitive drug control is now a‘ primary driver’ of the death penalty worldwide, says The death penalty for drug offences: global overview 2025, with drug-related
executions now accounting for almost half of all confirmed executions. However, levels of state secrecy in countries like China and North Korea mean the true scale is likely‘ far greater’, HRI stresses.
Almost 2,500 people across 22 countries are currently on death row for drug offences, with many facing‘ imminent’ execution. The number of countries retaining the death penalty for drug offences now stands at 36, its highest level, after Algeria and the Maldives amended their laws to introduce it.
‘ The application of the death penalty for drug offences frequently targets the most vulnerable members of society, including ethnic minorities,’ the document says, with the majority occupying‘ peripheral roles’ in the drug trade. Among those executed last year, more than 270 were foreign nationals and almost 340 were from ethnic minorities. At least 23 were women, many of whom were arrested either as couriers or accomplices to their partners. Report available at hri. global
WALLS OF JERICHO Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West MP Martin McCluskey made a recent visit to Abbeycare’ s Jericho House residential facility in Greenock.‘ The dedication of the staff and partners, and the courage of those taking steps to overcome addiction, is inspiring’, he said.
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