This week, the NDEWS Weekly Briefing focuses again on unobtrusive measures. We originally featured this topic in Weekly Briefing Issue 283, which introduced the concept of using indirect methods to better understand patterns of drug use.

In this briefing, we focus on wastewater-based analysis, another unobtrusive measure of drug use. Wastewater analysis features prominently in the strategic plan of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). A link to the full 2026 National Drug Control Strategy is below in the briefing.

We also highlight insights from our Web Monitoring Team with a report on MDPV (3,4‑methylenedioxypyrovalerone), also known as "Monkey Dust." NDEWS was alerted to the potential resurfacing of "Monkey Dust" from one of our Sentinel Site Directors, prompting closer monitoring of emerging trends and conversations across digital platforms. This report synthesizes those findings, offering a snapshot of how “Monkey Dust” is being discussed and perceived, to facilitate early warning efforts and public health awareness.

As always, we welcome your input.

Why are we reporting on this?

MDPV (methylenedioxypyrovalerone), also known as "Monkey Dust", has recently resurfaced as a prominent topic of interest within online communities due to documented patterns of consumption and associated public health risks. This report was initiated after an NDEWS Sentinel Site Director submitted an alert originating from the Officer Awareness Intelligence Bulletin from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office in New York. Reddit discussions complement this intelligence, revealing specific trends including a high propensity for compulsive redosing, risks of drug-induced psychosis, and the potential for physical and psychological dependence. Discussants highlight the re-emergence of this substance on the illicit market, frequently comparing its effects to other high-potency stimulants and noting its unpredictable behavioral outcomes.

What is MDPV/"Monkey Dust"? MDPV, or "Monkey Dust", is a synthetic cathinone belonging to the pyrovalerone class, which functions as a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. This substance is typically found in crystalline powder or tablet form and is primarily distributed through online research chemical markets and localized illicit supply chains.

Public Health Impacts: Reddit discussants report distinct adverse effects from "Monkey Dust" or MDPV consumption, including cardiovascular strain, rapid onset of paranoia, and acute psychosis. Commenters describe experiences where this substance caused physical exhaustion, prolonged insomnia, and psychological distress during the cessation phase. Multiple discussants mention that the compounding effects of sleep deprivation and sustained stimulation frequently lead to a loss of behavioral control and heightened neurological vulnerability.

How is it Being Discussed? Reddit commenters note that MDPV, or "Monkey Dust", exhibits a high level of efficiency in blocking dopamine reuptake, creating a distinct physiological rush and elevated mood that discussants state exceeds that of cocaine or methamphetamine. There is frequent discussion of this compound in the context of behavioral compulsivity, with commenters noting a frequent urge to redose during extended periods of consumption. Discussants actively debate the pharmacology of new structural analogs appearing on the market as manufacturers attempt to navigate regional blanket bans. The substance is frequently discussed alongside other compounds, including alcohol, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and various dissociatives like PCP.

Note: This is the first NDEWS web monitoring report to include MDPV ("Monkey Dust").

Click here to read more about NDEWS Online Monitoring.

Are you interested in learning more about our data from our Sentinel Site Directors? From EMS encounters? From the Rapid Street Reporting study? From our web monitoring? In networking and sharing your area’s trends? Join us for the 5th Annual Summit. It will be a hybrid event on Saturday, June 13 from 2:00–6:00 PM PT in conjunction with the 88th College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) Annual Scientific Meeting. Join us in person at the Oregon Convention Center or virtually via Zoom.

The agenda will feature updates from the NDEWS Coordinating Center and Early Warning Network, as well as presentations highlighting our latest publications and data. The program will also include dedicated time for an open-floor discussion for attendees to explore new partnership ideas, propose new research questions, and explore innovative approaches for data integration.

During CPDD, members of the NDEWS Coordinating Center and affiliates will present symposia and posters showcasing recent findings. While registration for the CPDD conference is not required to attend the NDEWS Summit, we encourage you to register and stay for what is the favorite conference for many of us.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy recently released its 2026 National Drug Control Strategy. The strategy outlines an approach to address the overdose crisis, with a strong emphasis on disrupting illicit drug supply chains through enhanced border security, targeting of cartels, and control of precursor chemicals. The strategy also prioritizes prevention and public health measures, including expanding evidence‑based prevention programs, increasing access to treatment and recovery services, and strengthening early intervention and overdose response efforts such as naloxone distribution. Read the full report here.

A recently published article in Psychology Today by NDEWS Scientific Advisory Group member Mark Gold discusses wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) and how it is able to determine which drugs are being used, when and where. WBE  is highlighted as an emerging tool that can track community-level substance use in near real time by measuring drug metabolites in sewage, offering a faster and less biased alternative to traditional surveys and surveillance systems.  Read the full article here.

A recently published study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health led by Tabora-Sarmiento and co-authored by NDEWS Director Linda Cottler presents a standardized, practical framework for wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to monitor community-level substance use, demonstrating the ability to simultaneously detect dozens of drugs and provide objective, near real-time estimates that overcome biases in traditional self-reported data.

The work was led by Tara Sabo-Attwood and Joe Bisesi who were PI and Co-I respectively on the NDEWS Wastewater Supplement. They show that improved sampling, transport, and analytical workflows that are designed to minimize analyte degradation and matrix interference can show that improved sampling, transport, and analytical workflows that are designed to minimize analyte degradation and matrix interference can enhance the reliability, reproducibility, and comparability of wastewater drug data across sites. Read the full study here.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for mitragynine, the primary psychoactive compound found in Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), has taken effect with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The IND paves the way for an NIH-led phase I clinical trial to evaluate mitragynine as a potential treatment for opioid use disorder. Read the full release here.

The European Union Drugs Agency recently published its wastewater analysis findings from large, multi-city European study. The findings reveal that wastewater data can unveil distinct geographic and temporal trends including widespread detection of multiple substances and variation by region, city characteristics, and time. Read the full release here.

A recently published study in Drug and Alcohol Dependence co-authored by NDEWS Scientific Advisory Group member Dan Ciccarone evaluated whether changes in the prevalence and concentration of fentanyl in urine drug tests predict synthetic opioid-involved overdose mortality across U.S. geographic regions. A total of 2172,218 urine drug test specimens for substance use testing between January 2019 and December 2025 were analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for fentanyl prevalence and concentration (detection rate). The results indicated a 333% increase in fentanyl concentration and a 104% increase in fentanyl prevalence were identified nationally between 2019 and 2023, followed by decreases of 33% for concentration and 27% for prevalence through 2025. Read the full study 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.

Dear friends of NDEWS,

Have you ever been to a College on Problems of Drug Dependence meeting? If not, you are missing an opportunity to learn about drugs from the bench to the community. Many of us have made lifelong friends by attending the annual meeting. This year, the conference will be held on 13 - 17, 2026 in delightful Portland, Oregon! If you have never been before and want to learn more about the meeting and organization, click here.

Register for CPDD’s 88th Annual Meeting here.

We’d also love to see you at the Annual NDEWS Summit, which will be held as a hybrid event on Saturday, June 13 from 2:00–6:00 PM PT. While it is held in conjunction with CPDD, registration for the CPDD conference is not required to attend the NDEWS Summit.

Register for NDEWS Summit here.

📅 Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026

🕑 Time: 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm PT

📍 Location: In person at the Oregon Convention Center & Hyatt Regency Portland or virtually via Zoom.

We hope to see you there!

The NDEWS team

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.

Share your research, news, and events through our submission form.

Share information on drug trends in your community through our get involved form.
Share your comments on our newsletter through our feedback form.

For more information on NDEWS' efforts, visit our website.

Follow NDEWS on Twitter/X: @NDEWSnews

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.