The COVID-19 pandemic changed how Saskatoon residents used prescription and illicit drugs: researchers
Saskatoon researchers have found evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic changed how people consumed pharmaceutical and illicit drugs.
A team led by Markus Brinkmann of the University of Saskatchewan School and Environment and Sustainability studied the city’s wastewater treatment plant and the river throughout 2020.
“We have observed differences in chemical use patterns,” Brinkmann told CTV News in an email.
- Lidocaine, a local anesthetic used by dentists and for minor surgeries, was absent from the wastewater during the initial lockdown, likely since most of those procedures were non-urgent care and were postponed.
- Methamphetamine was also absent, likely because the drug supply was disrupted.
- Guaifenesin, the active ingredient in Mucinex, a cough suppressor, started showing up post-lockdown. Brinkmann said he has read on online forums that Mucinex has been popular among front-line workers to suppress coughs and is used in clinical settings to relieve COVID-19 patients.
The results also raise questions about the health of the river in light of the effects of climate change.
“The levels we have measured are not high enough to be likely to acutely impact aquatic organisms living in the river. But that does not mean that there are no chronic, long-term implications that might manifest over longer time scales,” Brinkmann said.
“Also, this assessment does not explicitly account for combined stressors. For example, stress caused by the chemicals might coincide with stress caused by high nutrient levels, high temperatures, and low dissolved oxygen, which can all happen when flows in the river are low (such as those we have seen this year).
“So the added chemical stress from the pharmaceuticals might be what is pushing the organisms over the edge.”
Plant manager Mike Sadowski said in a news release that there are no federal regulations on pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater effluent, or restrictions in the provincial permit under which the plant operates.
“However, the city is taking steps toward protecting and conserving the South Saskatchewan River by partnering with professor Brinkmann’s team in this regard.”
Brinkmann said the results of their study will serve as a baseline for any future mitigation of these pharmaceutical chemicals.
The team plans to look at processes to reduce of these chemicals through the effluent process.
They’ll also study how the pharmaceuticals affect sludge in the plant, which is stabilized and applied to farmland as fertilizer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.