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Significant changes in preference of illicit drug use in a population of Hanoi, Vietnam—A 6‐year wastewater study (2018–2023).

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Title: Significant changes in preference of illicit drug use in a population of Hanoi, Vietnam—A 6‐year wastewater study (2018–2023).
Authors: Hue, Tran Thi Thanh (AUTHOR), Ngo, Hieu K. T. (AUTHOR), Wang, Zhe (AUTHOR), Anh, Nguyen Thi Kieu (AUTHOR), Binh, Vu Ngan (AUTHOR), Trung, Ngo Quang (AUTHOR), Chinh, Pham Quoc (AUTHOR), Luong, Hai Thanh (AUTHOR), Zheng, Qiuda (AUTHOR), Hall, Wayne (AUTHOR), Thai, Phong K. (AUTHOR)
Source: Addiction. Nov2025, Vol. 120 Issue 11, p2295-2304. 10p.
Subjects: Sewage analysis, Substance abuse, Cocaine, Environmental monitoring, Ketamine, Methamphetamine, Research funding, Scientific observation, Time series analysis, Drug use testing, Longitudinal method, Heroin, Mass spectrometry, Data analysis software, Drugs of abuse, Biomarkers, Regression analysis, COVID-19 pandemic
Geographic Terms: Vietnam
Abstract: Background and Aim: Illicit drug use causes great harm and economical loss to society, yet there is limited understanding of its prevalence in the population in low‐income countries like Vietnam where survey resources are scarce. In this study, we used wastewater analysis as a cost‐effective monitoring tool to measure illicit drug use in a population of Hanoi, Vietnam, a low‐income country in Southeast Asia. Design, setting and participants: This is a longitudinal observational study. Wastewater samples were collected at a sewage canal serving > 430 000 people, in Hanoi, Vietnam, over a six‐year period (2018–2023). Measurements: Drug biomarkers for amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ketamine, morphine, codeine and benzoylecgonine were measured using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry via direct injection. The results were used to back‐estimate per capita drug consumption. Together with an evaluation of general temporal trend, an interrupted time series analysis using segmented linear regression was conducted to examine the potential changes in drug use associated with the post‐COVID‐19 restriction. Findings There was a statistically significant decrease in methamphetamine use, with annual averages declining from a peak value of 359.2 to 125.6 mg/day/1000 people between 2018 and 2023 (P < 0.001). In contrast, ketamine use increased statistically significantly, rising from 149.7 to 465.9 mg/day/1000 people over the study period (P < 0.001), making it the most commonly used illicit drug. Cocaine and heroin use levels remained relatively low, while MDMA use was relatively stable over time. In the post‐COVID‐19 restriction period, declines were observed in methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine and codeine consumption; however, only cocaine [Coefficient (standard error, SE) = −1.9 (0.9), P = 0.034] and codeine [Coefficient (SE) = −42.4 (12.4), P = 0.001] showed statistically significant downward trends. In contrast, ketamine and heroin consumption exhibited slight but non‐significant increases, suggesting limited disruption during the post‐restriction period. Conclusions: Wastewater analysis shows that the market of illicit drugs in Vietnam is dynamic and shifting toward synthetic drugs. Methamphetamine replaced heroin as the substance with the highest estimated per capita use in Vietnam from 2018 to 2020 and was subsequently overtaken by ketamine by the end of 2022. Wastewater analysis can provide information on population use of multiple substances, including changes due to different factors in a cost‐effective way, which is essential in data‐poor countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Addiction is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Significant changes in preference of illicit drug use in a population of Hanoi, Vietnam—A 6‐year wastewater study (2018–2023).
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;JN&quot; term=&quot;%22Addiction%22&quot;&gt;Addiction&lt;/searchLink&gt;. Nov2025, Vol. 120 Issue 11, p2295-2304. 10p.
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Background and Aim: Illicit drug use causes great harm and economical loss to society, yet there is limited understanding of its prevalence in the population in low‐income countries like Vietnam where survey resources are scarce. In this study, we used wastewater analysis as a cost‐effective monitoring tool to measure illicit drug use in a population of Hanoi, Vietnam, a low‐income country in Southeast Asia. Design, setting and participants: This is a longitudinal observational study. Wastewater samples were collected at a sewage canal serving &gt; 430 000 people, in Hanoi, Vietnam, over a six‐year period (2018–2023). Measurements: Drug biomarkers for amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ketamine, morphine, codeine and benzoylecgonine were measured using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry via direct injection. The results were used to back‐estimate per capita drug consumption. Together with an evaluation of general temporal trend, an interrupted time series analysis using segmented linear regression was conducted to examine the potential changes in drug use associated with the post‐COVID‐19 restriction. Findings There was a statistically significant decrease in methamphetamine use, with annual averages declining from a peak value of 359.2 to 125.6 mg/day/1000 people between 2018 and 2023 (P &lt; 0.001). In contrast, ketamine use increased statistically significantly, rising from 149.7 to 465.9 mg/day/1000 people over the study period (P &lt; 0.001), making it the most commonly used illicit drug. Cocaine and heroin use levels remained relatively low, while MDMA use was relatively stable over time. In the post‐COVID‐19 restriction period, declines were observed in methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine and codeine consumption; however, only cocaine [Coefficient (standard error, SE) = −1.9 (0.9), P = 0.034] and codeine [Coefficient (SE) = −42.4 (12.4), P = 0.001] showed statistically significant downward trends. In contrast, ketamine and heroin consumption exhibited slight but non‐significant increases, suggesting limited disruption during the post‐restriction period. Conclusions: Wastewater analysis shows that the market of illicit drugs in Vietnam is dynamic and shifting toward synthetic drugs. Methamphetamine replaced heroin as the substance with the highest estimated per capita use in Vietnam from 2018 to 2020 and was subsequently overtaken by ketamine by the end of 2022. Wastewater analysis can provide information on population use of multiple substances, including changes due to different factors in a cost‐effective way, which is essential in data‐poor countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: &lt;i&gt;Copyright of Addiction is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder&#39;s express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.&lt;/i&gt; (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1111/add.70147
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        Text: English
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Substance abuse
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      – SubjectFull: Cocaine
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      – SubjectFull: Environmental monitoring
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      – SubjectFull: Heroin
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      – TitleFull: Significant changes in preference of illicit drug use in a population of Hanoi, Vietnam—A 6‐year wastewater study (2018–2023).
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