Tyrolean town of Hochburg

Wastewater reveals secrets about drug use

The Innsbruck forensic medicine laboratory reveals society's behavior with regard to drugs.(Bild: MUI)

Wastewater treatment plants and the analysis of wastewater form an open book when it comes to various drugs in a region. The Medical University of Innsbruck has now presented the latest results.

Since 2016, the forensic toxicology laboratory of forensic medicine has been providing the Austrian data for the annual Europe-wide study. The study analyzed 16 domestic sewage treatment plants and thus the residents of around 160 municipalities.

The "average consumer"
The general finding: "On average, a resident drinks just over a glass of wine a day, smokes three to four cigarettes and consumes 0.07 joints and 1.5 milligrams of stimulant drugs," explains laboratory manager Herbert Oberacher.

Study director Professor Herbert Oberacher(Bild: MUI)

Fortunately, we are only "mediocre" across Europe
Is this alarming or not? In any case, none of the 16 regions monitored are among the top European countries. "This means that Austria remains in the middle of the pack when it comes to drug use," summarizes Professor Oberacher. Nevertheless, the study allows conclusions to be drawn about the habits of three million people! And it does so with regard to THC (cannabis), cocaine, amphetamine (speed), MDA (ecstasy) and methamphetamine (crystal meth) as well as alcohol and nicotine.

The picture is quite uniform: cannabis was dominant in all regions (generally higher in urban areas), with consumption at 11 grams per 1000 inhabitants.

For cocaine, Bolzano can "keep up" with Innsbruck
The increase in cocaine is striking: "We have been observing this for years," Oberacher explains. A sewage treatment plant near Bolzano was also examined, where a slightly lower consumption of most drugs was recorded compared to Innsbruck - with the exception of cocaine.

We have been observing the increase in cocaine for years.

Herbert Oberacher

Kufstein reacted to the alarming results
What happens with the findings? In Kufstein, the district police command reacted to the alarming data in 2022. For example, awareness of wrongdoing was raised in schools and risks were pointed out even more urgently. Local police officers were also trained as narcotics specialists by the Tyrolean Criminal Police Office.

However, the problem remains acute in the fortress city. The fortress city also recorded the highest per capita consumption of cocaine in Austria in 2023, as well as the highest consumption of cannabis.

Who is the "frontrunner" where?
The largest per capita consumption of the active ingredient amphetamine (speed) was recorded in Graz, while Wiener Neustadt and Steyr lead the way in the consumption of methamphetamine (crystal meth). MDMA (ecstasy) consumption appears to be higher in urban regions than in rural areas, with the peak value also observed here in Graz.