Full Breakdown
MonMoncton’s Wastewater Reveals Elevated Methamphetamine Levels
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Core Findings: Meth Traces Rank Among Highest in Canada
A Statistics Canada wastewater survey (Jan 2024–Mar 2026) found methamphetamine metabolites in Moncton’s sewage consistently above the combined average of the eight cities monitored, ranking the city third after Prince Albert and Saskatoon.
Background & Context: National Wastewater Survey
The study, *Opioid and stimulant consumption patterns in select Canadian cities*, measured drug metabolites in weekly samples from treatment-plant catchments serving roughly 9.2 million Canadians. Analysts noted that commuting, tourism and special events can distort per-capita estimates.
Data & Statistics: Moncton Compared Nationally
- Methamphetamine load – Prince Albert recorded the highest average at 2,003 mg per 1,000 people per day; Moncton’s six-month data (Mar 2025–Jan 2026) placed it among the highest.
- Stimulant toxicity deaths – In New Brunswick, methamphetamine was implicated in 63 % of stimulant-related deaths in 2024, the highest proportion in Atlantic Canada.
- Overdose calls – Moncton firefighters responded to just over 1,500 overdose calls Jan–Aug last year, nearly 1,000 more than the same period the year before.
Official Statements & Responses
Premier Susan Holt called the results “concerning but not a surprise,” citing provincial preventative programs and a second mental-health court in Moncton.
Samantha King, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, said Atlantic provinces face higher stimulant-use concerns than regions where fentanyl dominates.
Moncton Fire Chief Conrad Landry warned that simultaneous medical and fire calls could delay emergency response.
Impact & Community Response
The rise in overdose calls led to a rapid-response team. Jesse Goguen, harm-reduction coordinator with ENSEMBLE Moncton, noted methamphetamine is “second only to opioids” among clients, with 30-40 % reporting use. He linked use to survival needs, urging expanded housing, detox services and preventive supports.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Moncton’s data cover only six months, unlike other cities with continuous monitoring, so analysts caution against firm trend conclusions. Population adjustments may miss temporary influxes, adding uncertainty to per-capita estimates.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s too limited a period of observation that we have from Moncton to really speak concretely to trends over time that we have. In the future, that picture will become clearer gradually,” — Sianne Kuang, StatCan analyst
- “If they’re at a medical call and there’s a fire that comes in, that’s going to delay their response because they can’t just leave the patient there alone,” — Moncton Fire Chief Conrad
- “Sometimes it’s based a little bit on survival. So if they don’t have a place to stay, especially when it’s cold at night, they kind of want to stay awake so they can keep moving and keep warm,” — Jesse Gogung, ENSEMBLE Moncton
- “And then the amount of drug metabolized in the wastewater is a pretty good proxy of drug consumption within the area serviced by the wastewater treatment plant that we're collecting at,” — Sianne Kuang, StatCan analyst
- “There's many different drivers of different substance use, and one of them is just what is available in the market,” — Kora DeBeck, Simon Fraser University