Addiction journal
Addiction journal
What wastewater reveals about drug use in Hanoi, Vietnam with Phong Thai
What wastewater reveals about drug use in Hanoi, Vietnam with Phong Thai
What wastewater reveals about drug use in Hanoi, Vietnam with Phong Thai
Friday 14th November 2025
Discover how wastewater analysis in Hanoi reveals shifting drug trends and public health insights with Dr Phong Thai.
17 minutes
Informative
Eye-opening
Educational
Engaging
Supportive
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Addiction journal
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Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Family Recovery from Addiction
Nutritional Pathways to Recovery
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Get the buttons here!Wastewater Analysis: A Sneak Peek into Hanoi's Drug Scene
Episode Overview
- Wastewater analysis offers insights into drug consumption without direct surveys.
- Shifts from heroin to synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and ketamine observed.
- Vietnam's drug scene influenced by proximity to trafficking routes.
- COVID impacted drug availability and consumption patterns.
- Wastewater analysis is feasible even in low-income countries.
Wastewater analysis is best used as an early warning or semi-quantitative study to detect what people don't want to tell you.
Curious about how wastewater analysis can reveal drug use trends? This episode of Addiction Audio offers a fascinating glimpse into Dr Phong Thai's groundbreaking research in Hanoi, Vietnam. Dr Elle Wadsworth chats with Dr Thai, an Associate Professor at the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, about his six-year study that tracks illicit drug use through wastewater samples.
Wastewater analysis might sound like a dirty job, but it's a clever way to bypass the stigma and legal barriers that prevent honest reporting of drug consumption. The episode dives into the nitty-gritty of how certain biomarkers are used to detect drugs like methamphetamine and heroin, and the surprising shifts in drug preferences among Hanoi's population. From heroin to ketamine, the changing landscape of substance use is linked to factors like synthetic drug production and regional trafficking routes.
Dr Thai shares the challenges and triumphs of conducting such a study in a developing country, highlighting how these insights could shape public health strategies. It's not just about the science; it's about making a difference in communities where drug use data is scarce. Whether you're a researcher, clinician, or someone interested in the global fight against addiction, this episode offers valuable lessons and intriguing stories. So, what can wastewater really tell us about society's hidden habits?
Listen to find out.