Overview

• The Xunta de Galicia and the Universidade de Santiago will monitor residues of cocaine, cannabis, fentanyl and other substances in Tui, Lugo, Ourense, Pontevedra and Santiago de Compostela.
• The pilot is funded through a €50,000 collaboration agreement with the Consellería de Sanidade and Augas de Galicia, which will collect samples for laboratory analysis by USC.
• Researchers will use advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry to detect established drugs and emerging psychoactive compounds, including synthetic opioids.
• The plan schedules two two-week sampling campaigns each year to support early detection and timely situational awareness at the population level.
• Officials present the effort as an extension of wastewater surveillance used during COVID-19 that could be expanded, alongside a separate line of aid for local addiction-prevention programs.