Leuven – The Leuven sewage water contains ketamine that researchers detected daily for eighteen months. The strong anaesthetic ketamine continues to increase as a recreational drug. The situation with ketamine in sewage water continues to be a problem in Leuven in Flemish Brabant.
Studies at Leuven found Ketamine in sewage water during every day of an 18-month period, with 97% of daily analyses testing positive. Trace amounts of Ketamine possibly existed in 3% of the samples that did not show detection. The drug’s existence was persistent in the sewage water data, which demonstrates that its popularity exceeds weekend party consumption.
Municipal council member Sander Vanmaercke (CD&V) pointed out through observations that drug consumption rates increase particularly during weekend days despite reduced student populations, thus contradicting the theory of primary user groups.
For a year and a half, samples were taken from Leuven’s sewage water every day. Ketamine was found in 97% of those samples.
Ketamine may have been present in the remaining 3%, but it was not large enough for analysis. In any case, I was seriously shocked by the figures. Everyone knows stories about drugs in nightlife, but this makes it very concrete.
The fact that it concerns daily use is surprising. The drug seems to have become established in Leuven. You would expect it to be used mainly by the 50,000 students in Leuven, but use appears to be higher during the weekend. That is when the students are not there, so it cannot simply be blamed on them.
Vanmaercke wants to present the figures at the next city council.
Leuven is already doing a lot for safety, but I think there is a need for an action plan for Ketamine. Mapping hotspots of dealers and users would be a good first step. There could be increased supervision by the police. An awareness campaign is also a possibility.
What is the background of ketamine use in Leuven and Flanders?
Medical anaesthetic ketamine continues to grow as a recreational drug in Flanders as sewage testing shows substantial increases in its consumption. Research from UAntwerp demonstrated that Ketamine appeared in 97% of daily sewage tests in Leuven over an 18-month period, and Flanders now shows 7 to 11 times higher use than 2012 levels. The drug, known as “Ket” or “Special K,” is popular in nightlife but also shows consistent weekday presence, suggesting non-student users.
Weekend spikes in Leuven indicate that a broader demographic group participates in drug consumption besides the typical student population. Continuous use of Ketamine creates potential threats to bladder health as well as triggering psychotic reactions and impairing mental functions.
