Neighborhood Buzzed by Cocaine Use
Sewage tests on wealthy Nantucket Island have revealed cocaine levels 50% higher than the U.S. average, according to data released by local health officials.
Wastewater samples from the Massachusetts enclave measured over 1,500 ng/L of cocaine, compared with the national average of 1,000 ng/L, according to results posted on the town’s website.
The six-week wastewater study, conducted between June 18 and July 28, also detected traces of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and xylazine, along with prescription opioids such as codeine, morphine, and oxycodone.
However, levels of fentanyl and methamphetamine were lower than both the national average and the regional average for the Northeast, the results showed.
Nantucket Island has long been known as a summer playground for the rich and famous, including residents such as Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, actor Ben Stiller, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
Experts say additional testing is planned for the winter, when the island’s population typically drops as summer visitors leave.
“I think it’s interesting that cocaine levels were so high. I was also surprised that fentanyl was so low, because fentanyl is in everything. I expected it to be higher,” said Dr. Timothy Lepore, founder of Addiction Solutions of Nantucket, in an interview with the Boston Globe.
“I’m curious to see what the levels look like in the depths of winter, after many wealthy visitors have left the island,” he added.
Officials noted that drug data from wastewater testing is still in its early stages, and results can vary widely.
“As this type of monitoring is still in its early stages, additional baseline data is needed to provide a clearer picture. For high-risk substances and opioids, a sustained increase over several weeks may be a stronger indicator for public health intervention,” Nantucket Public Health Director Roque Miramontes told the Boston Globe.
The sewage samples are collected from the Surfside Wastewater Treatment Facility, which serves roughly 70% of the island’s 14,000 residents. They are then analyzed by Cambridge-based startup Biobot Analytics, a company founded at MIT.
