Sigma Xi Poster Competition
Drugs Discharged at Rest Areas during the U. S. Major Holidays
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Chemistry
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Bikram Subedi
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
The motor vehicle traffic crashes have been reported more during the holiday than in non-holiday periods from 1982-2019. Drug-involved traffic fatalities during six major holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) were significantly higher than a typical day in 2019. In this study, the amount of several discharged drug residues was measured in raw wastewater collected from five interstate highway rest areas and two truck servicing facilities in Kentucky on major federal holidays. Drug residues were extracted using solid phase extraction and analyzed using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Stimulants (cocaine, methamphetamine, and amphetamine) and opioids (hydrocodone and tramadol) were detected in all wastewater samples. Population normalized mass loads of amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and tramadol were higher on Christmas and July 4th compared to the weekday and weekend periods in a typical week. Despite higher drug-involved traffic incidents along interstate highways during holidays, this study represents the first comprehensive and quantitative report of drugs discharged during holidays and non-holidays areas along interstate rest areas and truck servicing facilities. It may suggest stakeholders enhance surveillance of drugs at rest areas and commercial truck service facilities, particularly during holidays, to minimize drug-involved vehicular crashes, improve preparedness for traffic injuries and casualties, and gain more timely insight into changing drug dynamics in the commuting population.
Spring Scholars Week 2024 Event
Sigma Xi Poster Competition
Drugs Discharged at Rest Areas during the U. S. Major Holidays
The motor vehicle traffic crashes have been reported more during the holiday than in non-holiday periods from 1982-2019. Drug-involved traffic fatalities during six major holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) were significantly higher than a typical day in 2019. In this study, the amount of several discharged drug residues was measured in raw wastewater collected from five interstate highway rest areas and two truck servicing facilities in Kentucky on major federal holidays. Drug residues were extracted using solid phase extraction and analyzed using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Stimulants (cocaine, methamphetamine, and amphetamine) and opioids (hydrocodone and tramadol) were detected in all wastewater samples. Population normalized mass loads of amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and tramadol were higher on Christmas and July 4th compared to the weekday and weekend periods in a typical week. Despite higher drug-involved traffic incidents along interstate highways during holidays, this study represents the first comprehensive and quantitative report of drugs discharged during holidays and non-holidays areas along interstate rest areas and truck servicing facilities. It may suggest stakeholders enhance surveillance of drugs at rest areas and commercial truck service facilities, particularly during holidays, to minimize drug-involved vehicular crashes, improve preparedness for traffic injuries and casualties, and gain more timely insight into changing drug dynamics in the commuting population.