Worrying data on Barcelona’s waste water
The latest data from the European Observatory on Drugs and Drug Addiction have revealed a 77.2% increase in the presence of ketamine in Barcelona’s wastewater in 2023. This represents a worrying increase compared to previous years.
Increased detection of MDMA and other substances
In addition to ketamine, a 20% increase has been observed in the detection of MDMA in the waters of the Catalan capital. These increases coincide with a trend in Europe where the consumption of these substances is increasing, according to analyzes carried out in waste water.
Trends in Barcelona and other Catalan cities
Barcelona stands out as one of the Catalan cities with the most traces of cannabis in waste water, occupying an important position in the European ranking. In addition, other cities such as Tarragona and Lleida have also seen an increase in the levels of cannabis detected in wastewater.
Drug consumption in Europe
The European Observatory on Drugs and Drug Addiction points out that cannabis is the most consumed illicit substance in Europe, with millions of users estimated last year. The data show persistent cocaine use mainly in western and southern Europe, with an upward trend in the presence of MDMA in countries such as Belgium, France and Spain.
Presence of methamphetamine in various regions
Although the presence of methamphetamine is generally low, it has been detected in several European regions such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Germany and others. This substance is also present in Spain, with comparatively lower levels.
