This Week’s Focus: NDEWS Early Warning in Action — Insights from the NDEWS Early Warning Network including Sentinel Site Directors Report

The NDEWS Weekly Briefing focuses on our Sentinel Site Directors (SSD) report concerning semi-synthetic cannabinoids (delta-8 and delta-10) and other "legal highs” or substances that can be bought locally at smoke shops, gas stations or online. This question was prompted by one of our monthly ideation meetings attended by members of NDEWS networks.

We also follow up on our previous briefing of delta-8 and delta-10 with a new NDEWS Web Monitoring Report. These two semi-synthetic cannabinoids have become a major topic of discussion due to their widespread availability in jurisdictions where traditional cannabis remains illegal.

Additionally, we linked the most recent NDEWS Town Hall webinar (Our Community, Our Health) featuring members of our NDEWS Web Monitoring Team. NDEWS Co-Investigator Dr. Elan Barenholtz and NIDA T32 Fellow Daniel Van Zant, who spoke in-depth about how they monitor new psychoactive substance trends and sentiments about use.

As always, we welcome your input.

Our Sentinel Site Directors were recently asked about local trends concerning semi-synthetic cannabinoids (delta-8 and delta-10) and other "legal highs” or substances that can be bought locally at smoke shops, gas stations or online. 

Click here to read more about NDEWS Sentinel Site Reports.

Why are we reporting on this? Delta-8 and delta-10 THC are hemp-derived semi-synthetic cannabinoids that have become a major topic of discussion due to their widespread availability in jurisdictions where traditional cannabis remains illegal. Reddit discussions reveal significant confusion regarding the legal status of these substances, concerns over product purity and "synthetic" labeling, and reports of intense, long-lasting adverse effects. The frequent mention of these compounds in the context of emerging state-level bans and their accessibility at gas stations and smoke shops highlights a shifting landscape of unregulated psychoactive product use.

What is Delta-8 + Delta-10? Delta-8 and delta-10 THC are analogs of delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. While they occur naturally in trace amounts, commercial products—including vapes, gummies, and "infused" flower—are typically synthesized from hemp-derived CBD. These products are sold at gas stations, vape shops, and via online retailers, often marketed as legal alternatives to marijuana under the 2018 Farm Bill.

Public Health Impacts: Reddit discussants report a range of significant adverse effects from delta-8 and delta-10 products, most notably "panic attacks" and extreme anxiety. Multiple users describe "green out" experiences characterized by vivid hallucinations, a loss of perception of identity, and a feeling of being stuck in "infinite loops." There are consistent reports of these substances producing a "heavy" or "dirty" high that can last for several days, leading to lingering disorientation and nausea. Furthermore, commenters express concern over respiratory irritation from vapes and a "chemical taste" in edibles, which some users associate with a lack of laboratory testing and the presence of unknown contaminants.

How is it Being Discussed? Reddit commenters frequently compare delta-8 and delta-10 to "weed on training wheels," though many warn that high doses of these "alt-noids" can be more overwhelming than traditional cannabis. There is extensive discussion regarding the legislative environment, particularly in states like Texas and Tennessee, where users are tracking bills aimed at banning hemp-derived cannabinoids.

Discussants often debate the authenticity of "gas station" brands versus "dispensary" products, sharing skepticism over QR codes and Certificates of Analysis (COAs) which they believe may be faked or missing. The substances are often discussed in "blends" that include other potent cannabinoids like THC-P and HHC. Additionally, users who have experienced "THC sensitivity" or anxiety from delta-9 often seek out delta-8 and delta-10 as potential milder alternatives, though results are mixed and frequently lead to further reports of paranoia.

Click here to read more about NDEWS Online Monitoring

A recently published study in the Frontiers in Psychiatry featuring NDEWS Sentinel Site Director and Co-Investigator Bruce Goldberger assessed the feasibility of recruiting marijuana-exposed maternal–infant dyads for longitudinal research. Thirty participants were enrolled over 20 months; 77% reported marijuana use during pregnancy. Participants completed 68% of visits but had a 39% loss to follow-up—mostly postpartum—versus 0% among controls. Barriers included transportation, while facilitators were compensation and rapport with staff. Read the report here.

A recently published study in PLOS One featuring NDEWS Sentinel Site Director Phillip O. Coffin explored motivations and barriers to research participation among women who use opioids. The study recruited 36 women  from Boston and San Francisco using four strategies: community outreach, social media, snowball sampling, and passive recruitment. The study determined that community outreach was most effective (39% of participants), while social media yielded only 8% despite over 549,000 ad views. Read the study here.

A recently published study protocol in BMC Public Health featuring NDEWS Sentinel Site Director Annick Bórquez described a hybrid type-1 effectiveness–implementation trial. The primary goal was to determine the effectiveness of the MI-CHANCE adjunctive intervention in increasing drug checking service (DCS) utilization and safer drug use behaviors. Researchers enrolled 588 people who use drugs in San Diego and tracked DCS use, safer drug practices, and overdose incidence over 30 months. Findings could inform scalable harm reduction strategies to address the evolving and increasingly toxic drug supply. Read the study protocol here.

Are you committed to advancing the science of substance use and public health? The University of Florida’s NIDA-funded T32 Training Program offers predoctoral and postdoctoral scholars an exceptional opportunity to launch impactful research careers focused on NDEWS!

What We Offer:
- Interdisciplinary training at the intersection of addiction science, epidemiology, and surveillance
- Mentorship from leading UF faculty in epidemiology, public health, psychology, medicine, and more
- Hands-on research with landmark and important NIH-funded projects and access to rich data
- Career development support, including grant writing, publishing, and professional networking
- A collaborative, inclusive research community committed to reducing the burden of substance use

Eligibility:
- US citizens or permanent residents
- Interested in a PhD in Epidemiology, or early-stage postdoctoral fellows
- Demonstrated interest in substance use, addiction, or public health research

Location: Gainesville, Florida — a dynamic hub for scientific innovation with high quality of life and low cost of living.

📅 Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2026

🕑 Time: 12 pm - 1 pm PT

📍 Location: Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront

📅 Date: Monday, January 26, 2026 to Thursday, January 29, 2026

🕑 Time: Starts at 6 pm ET

📍 Location: Hilton Bayfront St. Petersburg, FL

📅 Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026

🕑 Time: 1 pm - 5 pm PT

📍 Location: Oregon Convention Center & Hyatt Regency Portland

UF HealthStreet's latest Our Community, Our Health - NDEWS Town Hall took place Thursday, December 11, 2025. The OCOH Town Hall focused on the early detection of new psychoactive substances through online monitoring.

The webinar was led by National Drug Early Warning System Web Monitoring Team members Dr. Elan Barenholtz and NIDA T32 Fellow Daniel Van Zant.

Whether you're a researcher, clinician, public health professional, or community stakeholder, this session offers practical insights and evidence-based strategies for addressing on online monitoring.

Past OCOH - NDEWS Webinars:

- December 11, 2025 | OCOH - NDEWS Town Hall: Early Detection of New Psychoactive Substances by Online Monitoring
- November 20, 2025 | OCOH - NDEWS Town Hall: Inside Florida's Playwise Gambling Helpline and Prevention Program

The NDEWS Weekly Briefing curates emerging data and findings from across the Early Warning Network, which includes three core components: our Scientific Advisory Group (SAG), comprised of national experts and federal partners; our Sentinel Site Directors (SSDs), who lead local surveillance in key geographic regions; and our Community-Based Health Experts, who provide on-the-ground insights from populations most impacted by drug trends. Together, these contributors generate timely, multidisciplinary and impactful information, ranging from peer-reviewed research findings to local surveillance data. These contributions inform public health and research communities.

You can share the NDEWS Weekly Briefing with friends, colleagues, and others who would benefit from information on recent and relevant news, articles, and data related to novel drug trends in the US and globally by clicking here.

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If you miss or want to learn more about NDEWS Original Content, you can find our archived content on the NDEWS website:

     • NDEWS Hotspot Alerts using substance-related EMS data
     • NDEWS Rapid Street Reporting (RSR) survey data reports
     • NDEWS Web Monitoring Team Reddit Alerts
     • NDEWS Sentinel Site Reports
     • Previous issues of the NDEWS Weekly Briefings

The Weekly Briefing is a newsletter published each week by the National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) Coordinating Center, which is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (U01DA051126) to the University of Florida (MPI: Cottler (contact), Co-Is: Goldberger, Nixon, Striley), NYU Langone Health (MPI: Palamar), and Florida Atlantic University (Co-I: Barenholtz). Any item may be reproduced provided the source is acknowledged.