BACKGROUND: In recent years, methamphetamine (METH) has increased dramatically in China. However, little is known regarding the prevalence of METH use among the general population in China.
METHODS: We provided a method to estimate the consumption and prevalence of METH in a city based on wastewater analysis. Monte Carlo simulations were employed to assess the uncertainty and variability of the consumption and prevalence rate in Beijing.
RESULTS: METH consumption in Beijing based on Monte Carlo simulation varied between 1.3 and 5.2kg per day with a median of 2.6kg per day. In 2013, the 12-month prevalence of METH use was 0.58% (95% confidential interval 0.08-3.16) among the general population aged 15-64 years. A population-weight consumption map displayed the geographical differences in Beijing.
CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method dramatically improved the accuracy and reliability and can be used as a useful complementary tool to official methodologies for drug use monitoring. This report describes the first comprehensive study concerning the prevalence of METH among the general population in mainland China.