NDEWS ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION

Alert from NDEWS Web Monitoring Team: Increases in Reddit discussions of 3-Me-PCPy in May 2021

According to the NDEWS Web Monitoring Team, led by Dr. Elan Barenholtz and Ph.D. candidate Paul Morris of the Machine Perception and Cognitive Robotics (MPCR) Lab at Florida Atlantic University, early mentions of 3-Methyl-PCPy in drug Subreddit discussions indicate the availability of an anticipated new psychoactive substance. 3-Methyl-PCPy, abbreviated 3-Me-PCPy, is an analog and structural isomer of PCP. In late May 2021, algorithmic monitoring of ~80 drug-oriented Subreddits detected the first mentions of 3-Me-PCPy on Reddit, indicating interest in the drug in anticipation of its availability through online marketplaces as a new PCP derivative.

Share with us here if you have information about 3-Me-PCPy. 

Multimorbidity among adults who use methamphetamine

NDEWS Co-Investigator Dr. Joseph Palamar and colleague published a paper in The Journal of General Internal Medicine this week examining the link between multimorbidity and methamphetamine use. They found a high correlation between adults who use methamphetamines and reported mental illness, substance use disorders, and medical multimorbidity. Read the full study here. 

RECENTLY PUBLISHED

Novel non-fentanyl synthetic opioid listings on a darknet market

NDEWS Scientific Advisory Group member Dr. Amit Sheth and research team published a new article in Drug and Alcohol Dependence this week examining illegal drugs for sale on the darknet. From June through August 2020 on Empire Market, 17 nonfentanyl novel synthetic opioids were identified and 14 of those were identified for the first time. Read more here.

Opioid agonist treatment with all-cause mortality: A systematic review

A review published in JAMA Psychiatry this week evaluated the data on all-cause mortality and individuals with opioid use disorder in opioid agonist treatment (OAT). Researchers found that OAT was associated with lower rates of mortality, including lower rates of suicide and cardiovascular-related death. Read the full review here.

Good Samaritan laws and overdose mortality in the United States in the fentanyl era

A new paper published in The International Journal of Drug Policy examined states with Good Samaritan laws (GSLs) and overdose mortality. GSLs were associated with lower rates of overdose deaths. Read the full paper here.

NEW PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

Drug supply assessment: Q2 2021

A partnership between NPS Discovery, the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE), and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) released their 2021 Q2 report. Of 91 samples collected, most purported heroin was found to contain fentanyl. They also detected a surge in para-Fluorofentanyl. Read the full assessment here.

Public health alert: Tramadol

The Fredric Rieders Family Foundation (FRFF) in conjunction with the Colombo Plan recently released a bulletin regarding the public health risk of tramadol. Tramadol was found in 17% of seized samples and was detected in purported synthetic cannabinoids and cocaine. More information can be found here.

IN THE NEWS

National drug control budget: FY 2022 funding

The White House released the funding guidelines for fiscal year 2022’s National Drug Control Program agencies. Read the highlights here.

UPCOMING SEMINARS

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) 2021 European Drug Report 2021 is being released June 9 via a live online event. Register here. 

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