Rise Detected: Wastewater Testing for Drugs in the UK

The agency’s chief executive, Graeme Biggar, explained that sewage investigations are now routinely carried out to give a clearer picture of the extent of drug use.

Saying there is a much better way to assess the amount and type of drugs used, Biggar said the estimates were made from public surveys and the amount of drugs seized in the past.

While tests were done in cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool, wastewater testing showed cocaine use increased by 25 percent in some areas.

The price of cocaine was relatively low last year and an abundant supply was announced, which may explain the large increase in use.

THE LARGEST MARKET IN EUROPE

Biggar said the UK remains Europe’s largest cocaine market, with agency intelligence securing 250 tonnes of Class A drugs worldwide last year, with a significant part of this reportedly being shipped to the UK. United had it not been seized.

The director added that in the United Kingdom about 120 tons of cocaine and about 40 tons of heroin are consumed each year.

The UK has 4,500 drug deaths a year and an increase in fentanyl or other synthetic opioids could make the situation “significantly” worse.