The 'college years' have become socially acceptable times for experimentation with various types of alcohol and drugs.  While traditional survey methods to quantify drug usage are inherently problematic and introduce biases, this study collected wastewater to observe trends of illicit and recreational drug usage among periods of varying stress levels on a Pacific Northwest residential liberal arts college campus.  Target compounds of this study were amphetamine (AMP), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); samples were also analyzed for methamphetamine (MAMP), pseudoephedrine (PEPH), ephedrine (EPH), and ritalinic acid (RIT).  This research attempted to lessen the sampling uncertainty associated with measuring illicit amphetamine use seen in previous trends from studies that were concerned with the increasing availability of the ADHD medication, Adderall, and its misuse as a concentration stimulant.  Recent legislation changes allowing for the possession and consumption of recreational marijuana have made marijuana usage on campus, which remains illegal under federal law, prior to and after commercial availability, an area of significant interest.  MDMA had yet to be quantified for this population.  This study strived to employ the best available sampling practices, using a continuous flow-proportional sampling system for triplicate 16-hour composite samples.  Samples were quantified with Solid Phase Extraction and LC-MS/MS.  Concentrations found in the wastewater were normalized relative to the human marker compound creatinine as well as a tally of residential hall occupants.

Trends in illicit and recreational drug use on a college campus: Wastewater analysis by LC-MS/MS

247th National Meeting (2014)

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