The promising research published in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM) journal could be used as a “complementary tool for drug testing” in addition to existing methods like oral fluid tests and water supply analysis. During their initial proof-of-concept testing, the team mainly identified cocaine, MDMA (also known as ecstasy), and THC (a key component of cannabis-driven products). Moreover, the method was also able to detect ketamine, amphetamines, heroin, mescaline, painkillers, antidepressants, hypnotics, and even mushrooms.
The team, however, reported that there’s a bit of a chemical contamination problem associated with this smartphone-driven method for identifying drug usage. Then, there’s also the chance for false positives, such as another drug user touching a person’s phone and issues with the chemical stability of substances on a phone’s surface. But there are a lot of positive takeaways here, as well.
It is extremely cost-effective as each swab test is said to cost around nine cents only, which makes it an ideal candidate not only for larger studies of this kind but also for on-ground implementation by law enforcement agencies. Another crucial benefit of this test is that it can offer insight into individual consumption habits and large-scale patterns. For example, it can offer an insight into the variety as well as the frequency of drugs consumed at events pandering to a diverse crowd, be it a rave party or the usual nightclub gathering.
