Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The rapid emergence and proliferation of new psychoactive substances (NPS) pose significant challenges to public health and law enforcement. The potential for abuse and toxicity of these substances, which are intended to mimic the effects of controlled drugs, has been raising concerns as these compounds are designed to evade being regulated. There are traditional methods of tracking NPS, such as seizures and forensic toxicology, but they are delayed and seldom effective because these substances continue to evolve rapidly. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as a promising tool for real-time surveillance of drug consumption. The primary objective of this research was to develop and validate an analytical method for the detection and quantification of synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, and synthetic cathinones in wastewater. Wastewater samples were collected from rest areas along the interstate highways in Kentucky for the analysis of the prevalence and assessment of the contamination levels of these substances at various locations. The goal was to develop a robust and reliable solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (SPE, LC-MS/MS) based method for the simultaneous measurement of NPS residues. The samples contained varying levels (0.1-300 ppb) of synthetic cathinones, cannabinoids, opioids etc., and compounds like CPP, p-HMA, PTM, MTG, and MPD exhibited detection frequencies as high as 100%. Temporal trends revealed seasonal variations, showing peak concentrations during summer months. These detections provide strong evidence of NPS usage by general/moving population, since the samples were collected from rest areas. The results demonstrate the feasibility of using WBE as an early warning system for the surveillance of NPS consumption to aid in implementing public health interventions and policies. This study advances the application of WBE for real-time surveillance of emerging drug trends, particularly in rural communities that are typically underrepresented in conventional drug use surveys. This study is among the first to report the prevalence of NPSs in wastewater from interstate rest areas in the U.S., offering valuable insight into substance use patterns among mobile populations.

Year manuscript completed

2025

Year degree awarded

2025

Author's Keywords

new psychoactive substances, illicit drugs, wastewater-based epidemiology, drug usage patterns, environmental monitoring, LC-MS/MS analysis.

Degree Awarded

Master of Science

Department

Chemistry

College/School

Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Thesis Advisor

Kevin D Revell

Committee Member

Bommanna G Loganathan

Committee Member

Robert D Johnson

Committee Member

Caleb B Morris

Document Type

Thesis

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