Scientists Find Way to Drug Test Cities!!

[Tripper11]

Not sure if this has been posted yet....but...enjoy!

:wtf:

WASHINGTON - Researchers have figured out how to give an entire community a drug test using just a teaspoon of wastewater from a city's sewer plant.

The test wouldn't be used to finger any single person as a drug user. But it would help federal law enforcement and other agencies track the spread of dangerous drugs, like methamphetamines, across the country.

Oregon State University scientists tested 10 unnamed American cities for remnants of drugs, both legal and illegal, from wastewater streams. They were able to show that they could get a good snapshot of what people are taking.

"It's a community urinalysis," said Caleb Banta-Green, a University of Washington drug abuse researcher who was part of the Oregon State team. The scientists presented their results Tuesday at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston.

http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_082207WAB_citywide_drugtest_SW.5c55c822.html

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Oh fantastic, I can see it now.... all over the city, people will be tapping

into wastewater sources to do this.

[Wiley50]

7. If you See a Sewer Dept Worker checking your pipes, Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid n/t

[OhioChick]

2. Funny......

I know of quite a few elderly people that flush their old meds once they expire.

[lvx35]

5. I've worked as a caregiver, and flushing is policy.

You've got to dispose of meds with another staff watching by flushing it down the toilet. Its to prevent theft. Not to mention of course that all the clients who take the meds pee down the same toilets...

[Ron Green]

3. My town is so busted.

[WoodrowFan]

4. damn

I wonder if DC can pay Richmond to take the test for us...

[Canuckistanian]

6. The paperwork for the warrant must be horrendous n/t

[Solon]

8. No warrant necessary...

I imagine the waste would be considered "discarded" and also, since it doesn't and can't pinpoint individuals, a warrant could never be issued anyways. Police can search trash that is off your property without a warrant, I would imagine the same would apply for this.

[Canuckistanian]

9. This whole thing is just for research purposes anyways

There's no way anyone could base any charges on this.

Actually, I think it's an interesting idea. It would be valuable information to know what gets put into our waste water and by extension, the environment.

[Solon]

10. True, though I wonder how accurate it would be...

Imagine all the chemicals and medicines, both legal and illegal, that are dumped into the porcelain throne per day, I wonder how many interesting chemical reactions and changes occur in the sewage? Not to mention the organic waste, paper products, etc. added in.

[Jed Dilligan]

11. There was a finding last year,

city in Italy, measurable cocaine in the sewage.

Giuseppe the Fish says, Yippeeeee!

[Raster]

12. Not only was it measurable, it was FAR MORE THAN EXPECTED.