Trout can become 'addicted' to meth. Here's why that's so scary.

[muriel_volestrangler]

Recent laboratory experiments found that brown trout, a common fish in Eastern European rivers, exposed to methamphetamine at concentrations like those seen just downstream of wastewater treatment plants showed signs of addiction—such as being less active—and withdrawal. In the wild, meth-addicted fish could have difficulties reproducing and finding food.
...
The results build on growing evidence that many human-made compounds found in wastewater—from cocaine and heroin to antidepressants and birth control pills—are harming ecosystems, especially fish, says Horký, whose study appeared this week in the Journal of Experimental Biology. For instance, brown trout are vital prey species for many predators, and changes to their behavior or population could reverberate up the food chain. (Read how antidepressants may crayfish bolder.)
...
For their research, Horký and colleagues dosed 60 captive-bred brown trout with methamphetamine-laced water for two months, while keeping another group of 60 control trout in a drug-free tank. To simulate wild conditions, the researchers ensured that the drug levels (one microgram per liter) matched the meth levels other researchers have documented just downstream of wastewater treatment plants in Czechia and Slovakia.

In the first few days after being removed from the methamphetamine tank, the fish moved around less, which the team interpreted as stress from drug withdrawal. Analysis of brain tissue showed that the fish that moved the least had the most methamphetamine in their brains.

The researchers also gave the trout from both groups a choice to enter one of two streams of water: one with methamphetamine and one without. The meth-exposed trout preferred to swim in the meth-laced water, particularly in the four days after their drug supply stopped. Over time, the study trout’s preference for methamphetamine declined to match those of the control fish—a clear sign of addiction withdrawal, Horký says.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/trout-can-become-addicted-to-meth-heres-why-thats-so-scary

[marble falls]

1. So the trout are hooked.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Hee-hee!

[calguy]

3. I tie all my own tout flies.

Now I'm going to have to figure out how I can incorporate meth into my designs to get a jump on the other guys.