Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39169525›Full record

ArticleAddiction (Abingdon, England)2025

Mapping consumptions and market size of cocaine, amphetamine and MDMA through wastewater analysis: A Dutch case study.

Thomas L Ter Laak, Erik Emke, Nicole Dolot, Emiel E van Loon, Margo M E van der Kooi, Arian C van Asten, Pim de Voogt

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Addiction (Abingdon, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Interpol review of forensic drug chemistry, 2022-2025.Forensic science international. Synergy · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Thomas L Ter LaakKWR Water Research Institute, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-6182-6004
Erik EmkeKWR Water Research Institute, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Nicole DolotKWR Water Research Institute, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Emiel E van LoonDepartment of Freshwater and Marine Ecology (FAME), Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam (UvA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Margo M E van der KooiKWR Water Research Institute, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Arian C van Astenvan 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, (HIMS), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Pim de VoogtKWR Water Research Institute, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.

Funding

COST Action ES1307EuSeME projectnumber861602SEWPROF Marie Curie-PEOPLE grantb317205
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsIllicit drug consumption is associated with public health effects and criminal activities. This study aimed to estimate Illicit drug consumption and annual market in the Netherlands from wastewater analysis of drug residues.

methodsResidues of cocaine, amphetamine and 3,4-methylene dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) were measured between 2015 and 2022 in 30 Dutch wastewater treatment plants serving both rural and urban populations. These wastewater treatment plants covered 20% of the total Dutch population. The Dutch annual retail market was estimated by extrapolating consumption to the total Dutch population, back-calculating consumption volume, correcting for drug purity and street price collected in voluntary checking services, and accounting for the correlation of consumption and urbanity.

resultsThe per capita MDMA and cocaine consumption correlated positively with the urbanity of the wastewater treatment plant catchments with r

conclusionsIllicit drug consumption in the Netherlands appears to correlate positively with urban (in contrast to rural) areas. Wastewater analysis can be used to estimate the volume and monetary value of illicit drug markets as a proof of concept.

Indexed as

AmphetamineCocaineIllicit DrugsN-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamineWastewaterCommerceHumansNetherlandsRecreational Drug UseSubstance-Related DisordersAmphetamineCocaineIllicit DrugsN-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamineWastewateramphetaminecocaineDutch drug consumption estimateDutch drug market estimateenvironmental forensicsillicit drugsillicit stimulantsMDMArural vs. urban stimulant consumptionwastewater‐based epidemiology (WBE)

Identifiers

PMID39169525
PMCPMC11638510

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.