U.S. Destination Has ‘Dangerous’ Amounts of Cocaine in Water

Nantucket may be known for cobblestone streets, sailboats and celebrity summer homes — but new data suggests there’s a much darker current running beneath the island’s postcard-perfect surface.

According to fresh wastewater testing, cocaine levels in Nantucket’s sewage are now three times higher than the national average.

Yes, you read that right.

The upscale island off the coast of Massachusetts — long considered a classic New England beachside escape — began testing its wastewater in summer 2025 as part of a public health initiative. What officials found immediately raised eyebrows.

Summer samples showed cocaine levels running 50 percent higher than the national average. Nationwide, the average concentration is under 1,000 nanograms per liter. On Nantucket, the numbers were already climbing.

But the real spike came later.

Follow-up testing in the fall and winter revealed sharp increases in October and December. At one point, cocaine concentrations hit 2,948.70 nanograms per liter — nearly triple the national average.

Local outlet Boston 25 described the findings as a continuation of “dangerous amounts of cocaine” detected in the wastewater.

Island leaders aren’t ignoring the trend.

“With a seasonal population that can quadruple in the summer, the Town faces the unique challenge of managing behavioral health risks with a consistent but limited set of resources,” officials said in a statement responding to the data.

Nantucket’s population swells dramatically during peak tourist season, bringing an influx of visitors, vacationers and part-time residents. That surge puts added pressure on local infrastructure — including public health systems.

There was at least one silver lining in the report.

Testing showed levels of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the wastewater were below national averages, offering some relief amid the troubling cocaine spike.

Still, the numbers paint a striking picture: beneath the yacht parties and beach sunsets, one of America’s most picturesque island getaways is grappling with a growing drug issue — and now, the evidence is literally in the water.