This week, NDEWS highlights counties with higher than expected counts of methamphetamine-involved overdoses. There were a total of 17 alerts across 10 states and 14 counties. Read more here. Click here to read more about NDEWS Hotspot Alerts.

A national expert panel of persons with histories of drug use are invited to join Virtual HealthStreet to participate in periodic anonymous, special topic surveys specifically aimed at garnering a better understanding of emerging drug trends across the US. Join here.

This week’s MMWR examined trends in routes of drug use among overdose deaths that occurred from January 2020 to December 2022, overall, and by US Census region and drugs detected. The results showed that from January–June 2020 to July–December 2022, the percentage of overdose deaths with evidence of smoking increased by 73.7%, and the percentages with evidence of injection decreased by 29.1%. Changes were most pronounced in deaths with illegally manufactured fentanyls detected with or without stimulant detection. Read the report here.

A recently published study, co-authored by NDEWS Sentinel Site Director, Dr. Dana Quesinberry, compared wastewater detection of xylazine with other public health and safety surveillance data from 2019 to 2023 in Kentucky. Wastewater samples from five rest areas, two truck weigh stations, and four wastewater treatment plants were tested for xylazine. Xylazine was detected in 61.6% of daily wastewater samples from roadway sites/wastewater treatment plants. Detections from roadways increased from 55% to 94% between 2021 and 2023. Wastewater treatment plants had an overall detection of 25.8%. Read the study here.

Last week, a MMWR study compared the administration of 8- and 4-mg (mg) intranasal naloxone by law enforcement during responses to suspected opioid overdoses. The authors identified no observed differences in survival, the number of doses received, the prevalence of most postnaloxone signs and symptoms, combativeness, or hospital transport refusal between 8- and 4-mg product recipients. Among recipients of 8-mg intranasal naloxone, there was a significantly higher prevalence of signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal than among 4-mg product recipients. Read the report here.

Another MMRW study published last week examined self-reported motivations for using substances among persons aged 13–18 years assessed for substance use disorder treatment. Among adolescents assessed for substance use disorder treatment, the most commonly reported reasons for substance use included seeking to feel mellow or calm, experimentation, and other stress-related motivations. Read the report here.

Date: Thursday, February 29, 2024

Time: 3:00 P.M. ET

Register here.

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