Site- and event-specific wastewater-based epidemiology: Current status and future perspectives

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) can provide objective and reliable data to monitor spatiotemporal patterns of licit and illicit drug use. Numerous studies have been published relating to sampling, sample stability, validation of analytical protocols and the back-calculation of drug consumption. The majority of these studies focus on sampling from municipal sewage treatment plants, but an increasing number of studies have used WBE to monitor community-specific substance use and use during special events. This paper presents a systematic review of published WBE studies of drug use trends in educational institutions and prisons, as well as during music festivals, sporting events, and holidays. A discussion on the application and benefits of using wastewater-based epidemiology in these specific cases is presented together with an examination of current challenges and future perspectives. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.