Measurement of Total Drug Consumption in a Small Population by Tandem Mass Spectrometry

摘要

We have demonstrated that changes in drug use in a small, demographically well-defined population may be assessed when daily amounts of drugs being discharged into the sewer are averaged and compared. The results suggest that changes in drug use over longer periods of time maybe determined when average daily drug amounts are measured for a periods of 6-8 weeks that are six months to a year apart. Was tewater analysis by tandem mass spectrometric methods may be useful in determining the success of anti-drug initiatives or policies instituted just after the first set of measurements are made.