Bridging the gap between research and decision making: A European survey to enhance cooperation in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for illicit drugs

Jose Antonio Baz-Lomba; Alexander L.N. van Nuijs; Anna Lenart-Boroń; Anna Péterfi; Anne de l'Eprevier; Arndís Sue Ching Löve; Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern; Christoph Ort; Elisabetta Simeoni; Ester Heath; Evelina Pridotkiene; Foon Yin Lai; Frederic Béen; Herbert Oberacher; Igor Bodík; Iva Valenčić; Jaroslav Slobodnik; Joakim Strandberg; Kevin Sheeran; Laura Alexandra Smit-Rigter; Leon P. Barron; Lubertus Bijlsma; Magda Psichoudaki; Maria Savvidou; Marit Edland-Gryt; Martin Busch; Mateja Jandl; Michael G. Bertram; Miren López de Alda; Nadine Berndt; Nebile Daglioglu; Nikolaos Thomaidis; Loïc Fabien; Pavla Chomynova; Reinhard Oertel; Sara Castiglioni; Selda Mercan; Serap Annette Akgür; Serge Schneider; Teemu Gunnar; Thomas L. ter Laak; Thomas Thiebault; João Pedro Matias

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2025.02.009

Bridging the gap between research and decision making: A European survey to enhance cooperation in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for illicit drugs

Jose Antonio Baz-Lomba, Alexander L.N. van Nuijs, Anna Lenart-Boroń, Anna Péterfi, Anne de l'Eprevier, Arndís Sue Ching Löve, Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern, Christoph Ort, Elisabetta Simeoni, Ester Heath, Evelina Pridotkiene, Foon Yin Lai, Frederic Béen, Herbert Oberacher, Igor Bodík, Iva Valenčić, Jaroslav Slobodnik, Joakim Strandberg, Kevin Sheeran, Laura Alexandra Smit-RigterLeon P. Barron, Lubertus Bijlsma, Magda Psichoudaki, Maria Savvidou, Marit Edland-Gryt, Martin Busch, Mateja Jandl, Michael G. Bertram, Miren López de Alda, Nadine Berndt, Nebile Daglioglu, Nikolaos Thomaidis, Loïc Fabien, Pavla Chomynova, Reinhard Oertel, Sara Castiglioni, Selda Mercan, Serap Annette Akgür, Serge Schneider, Teemu Gunnar, Thomas L. ter Laak, Thomas Thiebault, João Pedro Matias

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objectives: Illicit drug use presents a significant challenge to global health and public safety, requiring innovative and effective monitoring strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the current landscape of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for monitoring illicit drugs in Europe, focusing on collaboration, current practices, and barriers, while identifying opportunities for improvement. Study design: Cross-sectional survey-based study. Methods: Coordinated by the Sewage Analysis CORe Group Europe (SCORE) and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), two surveys were conducted in 2023 targeting researchers and stakeholders using WBE for illicit drugs. Data were analysed to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improving WBE implementation. Results: The findings indicate a robust research infrastructure and diverse analytical methods among European institutions. Two-thirds of the participating countries reported using WBE data to inform policy. However, challenges persist, particularly in securing funding and coordination, as well as generating national estimates from multiple locations and addressing specific local policy needs. Conclusions: WBE has proven to be a valuable tool for monitoring illicit drug trends and informing drug policies. To unlock its full potential, sustained funding, methodological standardization, and enhanced cooperation are essential. This study provides critical insights into the European WBE landscape, offering a roadmap for strengthening the integration of actionable WBE data into public health and policy frameworks.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	158-163
Number of pages	6
Journal	Public Health
Volume	241
Early online date	27 Feb 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2025.02.009
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 27 Feb 2025

Acknowledgements

LP Barron acknowledges the National Institute for Health and Care Research under the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Units in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, and Environmental Exposures and Health. M. Edland-Gryt acknowledges the support of Ingeborg Lund and Anne Line Bretteville-Jensen in the Norwegian part of this work. S. Castiglioni acknowledges the Department for Anti-Drug Policies, Prime Minister's Office, Rome, Italy for supporting national monitoring studies.

Funding

J.A. Baz-Lomba acknowledges funding from European Union’s EU4Health programme under grant agreements 101140460 – EU-WISH. L. Bijlsma acknowledges grant RYC2020-028936-I funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future”. M.G. Bertram acknowledges funding support from the Swedish Research Council Formas (2020-02293) and is a member of the COST Action ‘CA21111 - One Health drugs against parasitic vector-borne diseases in Europe and beyond (OneHealthdrugs). M. Lopez de Alda acknowledges the support of the Spanish (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, RED2022-134363-T; Delegación del Gobierno para el Plan Nacional Sobre Drogas, 2020I009) and Catalonian Governments (2021 SGR 00753 and SA-2024-465).

Keywords

Cooperation
Europe
Illicit drugs
New psychoactive substances
Policy
Public health
Wastewater-based Epidemiology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.puhe.2025.02.009Licence: CC BY

Cite this

Baz-Lomba, J. A., van Nuijs, A. L. N., Lenart-Boroń, A., Péterfi, A., de l'Eprevier, A., Löve, A. S. C., Kasprzyk-Hordern, B., Ort, C., Simeoni, E., Heath, E., Pridotkiene, E., Lai, F. Y., Béen, F., Oberacher, H., Bodík, I., Valenčić, I., Slobodnik, J., Strandberg, J., Sheeran, K., ... Matias, J. P. (2025). Bridging the gap between research and decision making: A European survey to enhance cooperation in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for illicit drugs. Public Health, 241, 158-163. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2025.02.009

Baz-Lomba, JA, van Nuijs, ALN, Lenart-Boroń, A, Péterfi, A, de l'Eprevier, A, Löve, ASC, Kasprzyk-Hordern, B, Ort, C, Simeoni, E, Heath, E, Pridotkiene, E, Lai, FY, Béen, F, Oberacher, H, Bodík, I, Valenčić, I, Slobodnik, J, Strandberg, J, Sheeran, K, Smit-Rigter, LA, Barron, LP, Bijlsma, L, Psichoudaki, M, Savvidou, M, Edland-Gryt, M, Busch, M, Jandl, M, Bertram, MG, de Alda, ML, Berndt, N, Daglioglu, N, Thomaidis, N, Fabien, L, Chomynova, P, Oertel, R, Castiglioni, S, Mercan, S, Akgür, SA, Schneider, S, Gunnar, T, ter Laak, TL, Thiebault, T & Matias, JP 2025, 'Bridging the gap between research and decision making: A European survey to enhance cooperation in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for illicit drugs', Public Health, vol. 241, pp. 158-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2025.02.009

@article{1d727662dd354404bc4a436aae94b702,

title = "Bridging the gap between research and decision making: A European survey to enhance cooperation in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for illicit drugs",

abstract = "Objectives: Illicit drug use presents a significant challenge to global health and public safety, requiring innovative and effective monitoring strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the current landscape of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for monitoring illicit drugs in Europe, focusing on collaboration, current practices, and barriers, while identifying opportunities for improvement. Study design: Cross-sectional survey-based study. Methods: Coordinated by the Sewage Analysis CORe Group Europe (SCORE) and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), two surveys were conducted in 2023 targeting researchers and stakeholders using WBE for illicit drugs. Data were analysed to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improving WBE implementation. Results: The findings indicate a robust research infrastructure and diverse analytical methods among European institutions. Two-thirds of the participating countries reported using WBE data to inform policy. However, challenges persist, particularly in securing funding and coordination, as well as generating national estimates from multiple locations and addressing specific local policy needs. Conclusions: WBE has proven to be a valuable tool for monitoring illicit drug trends and informing drug policies. To unlock its full potential, sustained funding, methodological standardization, and enhanced cooperation are essential. This study provides critical insights into the European WBE landscape, offering a roadmap for strengthening the integration of actionable WBE data into public health and policy frameworks.",

keywords = "Cooperation, Europe, Illicit drugs, New psychoactive substances, Policy, Public health, Wastewater-based Epidemiology",

author = "Baz-Lomba, {Jose Antonio} and {van Nuijs}, {Alexander L.N.} and Anna Lenart-Boro{\'n} and Anna P{\'e}terfi and {de l'Eprevier}, Anne and L{\"o}ve, {Arnd{\'i}s Sue Ching} and Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern and Christoph Ort and Elisabetta Simeoni and Ester Heath and Evelina Pridotkiene and Lai, {Foon Yin} and Frederic B{\'e}en and Herbert Oberacher and Igor Bod{\'i}k and Iva Valen{\v c}i{\'c} and Jaroslav Slobodnik and Joakim Strandberg and Kevin Sheeran and Smit-Rigter, {Laura Alexandra} and Barron, {Leon P.} and Lubertus Bijlsma and Magda Psichoudaki and Maria Savvidou and Marit Edland-Gryt and Martin Busch and Mateja Jandl and Bertram, {Michael G.} and {de Alda}, {Miren L{\'o}pez} and Nadine Berndt and Nebile Daglioglu and Nikolaos Thomaidis and Lo{\"i}c Fabien and Pavla Chomynova and Reinhard Oertel and Sara Castiglioni and Selda Mercan and Akg{\"u}r, {Serap Annette} and Serge Schneider and Teemu Gunnar and {ter Laak}, {Thomas L.} and Thomas Thiebault and Matias, {Jo{\~a}o Pedro}",

year = "2025",

month = feb,

day = "27",

doi = "10.1016/j.puhe.2025.02.009",

language = "English",

volume = "241",

pages = "158--163",

journal = "Public Health",

issn = "0033-3506",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bridging the gap between research and decision making

T2 - A European survey to enhance cooperation in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for illicit drugs

AU - Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio

AU - van Nuijs, Alexander L.N.

AU - Lenart-Boroń, Anna

AU - Péterfi, Anna

AU - de l'Eprevier, Anne

AU - Löve, Arndís Sue Ching

AU - Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara

AU - Ort, Christoph

AU - Simeoni, Elisabetta

AU - Heath, Ester

AU - Pridotkiene, Evelina

AU - Lai, Foon Yin

AU - Béen, Frederic

AU - Oberacher, Herbert

AU - Bodík, Igor

AU - Valenčić, Iva

AU - Slobodnik, Jaroslav

AU - Strandberg, Joakim

AU - Sheeran, Kevin

AU - Smit-Rigter, Laura Alexandra

AU - Barron, Leon P.

AU - Bijlsma, Lubertus

AU - Psichoudaki, Magda

AU - Savvidou, Maria

AU - Edland-Gryt, Marit

AU - Busch, Martin

AU - Jandl, Mateja

AU - Bertram, Michael G.

AU - de Alda, Miren López

AU - Berndt, Nadine

AU - Daglioglu, Nebile

AU - Thomaidis, Nikolaos

AU - Fabien, Loïc

AU - Chomynova, Pavla

AU - Oertel, Reinhard

AU - Castiglioni, Sara

AU - Mercan, Selda

AU - Akgür, Serap Annette

AU - Schneider, Serge

AU - Gunnar, Teemu

AU - ter Laak, Thomas L.

AU - Thiebault, Thomas

AU - Matias, João Pedro

PY - 2025/2/27

Y1 - 2025/2/27

N2 - Objectives: Illicit drug use presents a significant challenge to global health and public safety, requiring innovative and effective monitoring strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the current landscape of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for monitoring illicit drugs in Europe, focusing on collaboration, current practices, and barriers, while identifying opportunities for improvement. Study design: Cross-sectional survey-based study. Methods: Coordinated by the Sewage Analysis CORe Group Europe (SCORE) and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), two surveys were conducted in 2023 targeting researchers and stakeholders using WBE for illicit drugs. Data were analysed to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improving WBE implementation. Results: The findings indicate a robust research infrastructure and diverse analytical methods among European institutions. Two-thirds of the participating countries reported using WBE data to inform policy. However, challenges persist, particularly in securing funding and coordination, as well as generating national estimates from multiple locations and addressing specific local policy needs. Conclusions: WBE has proven to be a valuable tool for monitoring illicit drug trends and informing drug policies. To unlock its full potential, sustained funding, methodological standardization, and enhanced cooperation are essential. This study provides critical insights into the European WBE landscape, offering a roadmap for strengthening the integration of actionable WBE data into public health and policy frameworks.

AB - Objectives: Illicit drug use presents a significant challenge to global health and public safety, requiring innovative and effective monitoring strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the current landscape of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for monitoring illicit drugs in Europe, focusing on collaboration, current practices, and barriers, while identifying opportunities for improvement. Study design: Cross-sectional survey-based study. Methods: Coordinated by the Sewage Analysis CORe Group Europe (SCORE) and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), two surveys were conducted in 2023 targeting researchers and stakeholders using WBE for illicit drugs. Data were analysed to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improving WBE implementation. Results: The findings indicate a robust research infrastructure and diverse analytical methods among European institutions. Two-thirds of the participating countries reported using WBE data to inform policy. However, challenges persist, particularly in securing funding and coordination, as well as generating national estimates from multiple locations and addressing specific local policy needs. Conclusions: WBE has proven to be a valuable tool for monitoring illicit drug trends and informing drug policies. To unlock its full potential, sustained funding, methodological standardization, and enhanced cooperation are essential. This study provides critical insights into the European WBE landscape, offering a roadmap for strengthening the integration of actionable WBE data into public health and policy frameworks.

KW - Cooperation

KW - Europe

KW - Illicit drugs

KW - New psychoactive substances

KW - Policy

KW - Public health

KW - Wastewater-based Epidemiology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85218888962&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.puhe.2025.02.009

DO - 10.1016/j.puhe.2025.02.009

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85218888962

SN - 0033-3506

VL - 241

SP - 158

EP - 163

JO - Public Health

JF - Public Health

ER -

Bridging the gap between research and decision making: A European survey to enhance cooperation in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for illicit drugs

Abstract

Acknowledgements

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this