Patti Chiari test finds cocaine traces in 24 of 30 Ticino venues

A test carried out by the RSI programme Patti Chiari found traces of cocaine in most of the public venues checked in Ticino. The investigation was conducted in the toilets of bars, nightclubs and some public facilities between the Lugano and Locarno regions, over weekends in June, July and September.

Out of 30 locations examined, traces of the substance or its derivatives were found in 24, or 80% of cases. To detect them, single-use wipes were used that turn blue on contact with cocaine, even in minimal amounts invisible to the naked eye. The surfaces checked were mainly shelves, toilet-paper holders and sinks.

A cross-cutting phenomenon

The result points to a pattern of use that often takes place in toilets, discreet spots during nights out. According to the investigation, the spread of cocaine fits into a broader trend of normalisation of the substance. Users do not necessarily match the traditional image associated with drug addiction: they are often people well integrated professionally and socially.

The phenomenon particularly involves young adults between 18 and 34, but is not limited to this age group. The venues chosen for the tests confirm this too: not only nightclubs and late-night bars, but also businesses with a mixed clientele, including, in some cases, venues frequented by families.

The test has a limit: it cannot establish how many people use cocaine or how much. It does, however, provide concrete evidence of the substance's spread across the Ticino region. According to the investigation, this finding calls for greater attention from authorities and policymakers, given the traces found in the majority of the sampled locations.

The report aired on RSI LA1 in the Patti Chiari episode of Friday 18 September.