Understanding the Utility of Analysis of Anonymous Pooled Urine from Standalone Urinals in Detecting and Monitoring Recreational Drug Use

Abstract

Over the last decade there has been a change in the pattern of use of drugs, with an increase in the use of novel/new psychoactive substances (NPS, also known incorrectly colloquially as “legal highs”). There has been a year-on-year increase in the number of NPS reported through the Early Warning System (EWS) at the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) over the last 5 years. Current information on the actual pattern(s) of use often is obtained from population and/or subpopulation level surveys of potential users. Data obtained in these user surveys is based on intended, rather than actual, drug(s) used, which may be unreliable. To mitigate some of these limitations described, there has been interest in collecting urine samples from closer to the point at which they are passed. This chapter presents and evaluates data obtained from standalone street urinals, undertaken in a variety of different settings.