New Mexico finds traces of cocaine in more than 80% of high schools

Traces of cocaine were found in 82% of New Mexico high schools. This discovery has been made thanks to an initiative promoted by the Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the state Department of the Environment, with the objective of figuring out the levels of drug addiction among young people and "ensuring the health and safety of our school communities."

The study, published last week and made possible thanks to the analysis of wastewater from all schools, determined that traces of cocaine were found in 31 of the 38 centers examined. The vast majority are located in Albuquerque, the most populated city in New Mexico.

Lujan Grisham's Office and the state Department of Environment did not just focus on the analysis of wastewater for finding traces of cocaine, but also for 15 other drugs, such as fentanyl. Residues of this opioid that kills tens of thousands of people each year were found in the wastewater of 21% of high schools.

Another substance that was examined was heroin, although it was not found in any center. Traces of other drugs such as methamphetamine or oxycodone were found.

Authorities used specific technology - devices that collect samples - to analyze the wastewater from secondary schools. It was there where they found traces of drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, or fentanyl in the human excrement.