Dr. Nicholas Goeders,Executive Director of Louisiana Addiction Research Center
After a report showing Shreveport’s wastewater contained double the amount of meth in the system than anywhere else in the country many were shocked. But Nick Goeders Executive Director of the Louisiana Addiction Research Center said it didn’t surprise him whatsoever.
“There’s a lot of methamphetamine use up here. I know in the southern parts of the state opioids are a bigger problem, but opioids are less of a problem up here. Meth has been a problem at least, I know of for the last ten years,” said Goeders.
Goeders said they use specialized equipment to detect meth in wastewater and when the results came in for Shreveport he called for a recount.
“Just to make sure that our numbers were correct we sent our samples to two different independent labs that have nothing to do with us, and they got the same results maybe even a little higher than we got,” said Goeders.
In March the President signed the Methamphetamine Response Act which tasks the Office of the National Drug Control Policy to identify how bad the problem is and find solutions. Goeders is optimistic the act will make a difference for addicts.
And while the City of Shreveport’s water system purifies wastewater before it’s reused, Goeders said he’s concerned about rural water systems and how meth in wastewater could impact the environment and food system.
“If this is getting into our food supply, it could be a huge problem. That’s why it’s so important for us to monitor this and continue to see if it is in fact an environmental contaminant,” said Goeders.
He said in Europe studies indicate meth in wastewater is contaminating lakes and has been found in trout.
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