Since 2021, the Home Office’s Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) Programme has taken samples from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs, or sites) across England and Scotland. WAND utilises wastewater analysis, which is a method used internationally, to provide robust and timely estimates of drug consumption in England and Scotland.

• phase 1 of the WAND programme ran from May 2021 to May 2023, during which sampling expanded to 18 WWTPs in England, covering around 25% of England’s residential population
• phase 2, from November 2023 to September 2024, increased coverage to 30 WWTPs across England and Scotland, covering 25% of England’s population and 46% of Scotland’s population
• phase 3 began in August 2024, expanding the programme to 50 sites, covering 28% of England’s population and 46% of Scotland’s population

This report presents, for the first time, national (England) level estimates of drug consumption and market value estimates based on an experimental and new methodology. Given its experimental nature the approach has been applied to data for England only.