NDEWS ORIGINAL CONTENT

Substance use in the past 12 months: New York City, NY May 20–22, 2022

The National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) Rapid Street Reporting (RSR) team visited New York City, NY May 20–22, 2022 to assess past 12-month and past 30 day drug use among community-recruited participants. Drugs reported by more than 10% of the participants included: marijuana, psilocybin, and powder cocaine. View the full report here.

Alert from the Web Monitoring Team: Online mentions of THC-O-acetate

Context: This alert was prompted by algorithmic monitoring of 80+ drug-oriented Subreddits.

What was found? Subreddit discussion for the drug THC-O-acetate emerged on Reddit in Fall 2021 and peaked in early 2022, with hundreds of mentions each month this year.

To what does THC-O-acetate refer? THC-O-acetate is an acetate ester of THC with reportedly higher potency than THC.

How is it being discussed? While the legal status of the drug in the US is unclear, commenters overwhelmingly consider THC-O-acetate to be a legal cannabinoid available for purchase. Commenters report the drug as having three times the potency of THC.

Drug Terms: THC-O-acetate, THC-O, THCO, THCOA.

NOVEL PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

NPS Discovery: Q2 2022 NPS Trend Reports

Earlier this week, NPS Discovery published their Q2 2022 NPS Trend Reports. The most prevalent NPS in Q2 2022 by class included, etizolam for NPS benzodiazepines; carfentanil for NPS opioids; N,N-Dimethylpentylone for NPS stimulants and hallucinogens; and MDMB-4en-PINACA for synthetic cannabinoids. Read the full report here.

RECENTLY PUBLISHED

Disparities in opioid overdose survival and naloxone administration in Pennsylvania

A study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence evaluated opioid overdose survival and naloxone administration by county over a three-year period. Results showed individuals who received at least one dose of naloxone following an overdose had 11 times greater odds of survival over a three-year period compared to those who did not receive naloxone. Both survival and naloxone administration rates differed by county, with lower rates in less-populated counties. White, middle-aged men were least likely to survive opioid overdoses. Read the full study here.

Drug checking use and interest among people who inject drugs in Toronto, Canada

A study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy examined history of and interest in using drug checking technologies among a cohort of people who inject drugs in downtown Toronto. Among 604 participants, 12% reported recent use of informal drug checking services, 73% reported willingness to use a formal drug checking service, and 88% reported willingness to use a formal drug checking service in response to an unexpected drug reaction. Read the full study here.

Percentage of overdose deaths involving methadone declined between January 2019 and August 2021

A study published earlier this week in JAMA Psychiatry and led by researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse calculated monthly drug overdose deaths without methadone, monthly drug overdose deaths involving methadone, and the percentage of overall overdose deaths involving methadone. Interrupted-time series analyses assessed changes in outcomes before and after the March 2020 methadone take-home policy. Results showed the percentage of overdose deaths involving methadone declined approximately 0.05% to 0.06% before and after the take-home policy change, with 4.5% of overdose deaths involving methadone in January 2019 and declining to 3.2% by August 2021. Read the full study here. View the NIH press release here. 

The practice and embodiment of “goofballs”: A qualitative study exploring the co-injection of methamphetamines and opioids

A study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy examined the practice and experience of the simultaneous co-injection of methamphetamine and opioids, often referred to as “goofballs,” through interviews conducted across two qualitative studies undertaken in Vancouver, Canada. Three distinct practices of goofball use were found: 1) to alter or enhance the effects of opioids; 2) to alter or enhance the effects of methamphetamines; and 3) to balance out the effects of both drugs. Read the full study here.

IN THE NEWS

FDA issues warning letters to five US companies selling unapproved kratom and essential oils for the treatment of opioid use disorder

The FDA has issued warning letters, jointly with the Federal Trade Commission, to five companies selling unapproved kratom products and one company selling essential oils for the treatment or cure of opioid use disorder and withdrawal symptoms. Read the full news release here.

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