2023-09-04 13:47:37
A University of Calgary research team studying traces of opioids in sewage in Alberta says the data collected could sound the alarm and possibly save lives.
Dr. Monty Ghosh, assistant professor at the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, as well as one of the main researchers behind this work, says he sees a worrying trend.
As the number of overdose deaths rose sharply in June in Alberta, Dr. Ghosh found that the use of carfentanil, a synthetic opioid used in veterinary medicine to anesthetize large animals, soared when deaths have been recorded.
We fear that a cocktail has emerged of a mixture of carfentanil, xylazine and other [drogue] which could be causing the spike, but that’s just a guess
he said.
This data is important because it gives an idea of what is happening with the drug supply and how it affects people on a daily basis.
It’s fair enough to say that the biggest public health crisis we face is no longer COVID-19, but the drug poisoning crisis or the opioid crisis.
he says.
Through sewage analysis, the researchers say it is possible to determine what drugs are being used in the community.
Sometimes these toxins create very rare or difficult to interpret symptoms
says Kevin Frankowski, executive director of the Center for Wastewater Studies at the University of Calgary (ACWA).
According to him, knowing that such a chemical is present [dans des eaux usées] can radically change the course of treatment. And the minutes count
he argues.
He explains that a technology was developed during the pandemic to monitor the virus responsible for COVID-19 through wastewater: We are expanding the platform and the areas where it can be used.
Unlike COVID-19, where there was a general acceptance of disclosing this information to the public, there is a lot of stigma attached to drug use.
Wastewater testing is done weekly at six sites across the province.
The research team does not disclose the location of the sites so as not to reinforce the stigma in these areas and create the impression that illicit drug use only exists in a few specific places.
The study is a pilot project, scheduled to be completed next fall. We would like additional funding to continue this work and focus on knowledge mobilization
says Kevin Frankowski.
In particular, he would like to increase the number of people in the community who receive this information and to communicate more effectively with them.
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