Fish or sharks on cocaine might sound like something dreamed up in a Hollywood writers’ room, but the reality is far less entertaining. Increasingly, scientists are detecting cocaine and other powerful drugs in aquatic environments, and even in the brains and bodies of wildlife.
A 2024 study from Brazil made headlines after finding cocaine in the muscles and liver of wild sharks caught off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. While this may seem surprising, it reflects a broader and growing issue: human drugs are making their way into rivers, lakes and oceans around the world.
