This week's NDEWS Hotspot Alerts report highlights counties with higher-than-expected drug-related 911 dispatch counts over a 7-day period from September 10 to September 16, 2024. The incidents include heroin, methamphetamine, opioid, and non-opioid-related dispatches based on real-time emergency medical services data, including nonfatal overdose surveillance. Click here to read the full report.
Click here to read more about NDEWS Hotspot Alerts.

Body cam footage shows arrest of Instagram model on 'pink cocaine' after fatal Miami crash. Read the article here.

Help us reach our goal of 6,000 subscribers by the end of 2024!
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 drug trends in the US and globally by clicking here.

A recent study published in Addiction by Leigh Coney and colleagues examined the quality of MDMA, cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and LSD sourced from both cryptomarkets and offline suppliers, analyzing data spanning from 2016 to 2021. The results showed that MDMA powder, cocaine, and methamphetamine from cryptomarkets were stronger, with cocaine being 8% stronger (p < 0.001) and MDMA powder 3% stronger (p = 0.012). MDMA powder and cocaine from cryptomarkets were also less likely to be adulterated, with a 47% reduced likelihood for MDMA powder and a 34% reduced likelihood for cocaine. However, amphetamine and LSD from cryptomarkets were more likely to be adulterated. Additionally, cryptomarket cocaine had fewer adulterants compared to off-line sources, highlighting significant differences in drug quality depending on the source. Read the study here.

Earlier this week, a preclinical study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports used a controlled laboratory design to investigate naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in male and female rats exposed to fentanyl, xylazine, or a combination of both over a 5-day period. Naloxone administration induced significant somatic withdrawal symptoms in rats co-exposed to fentanyl and high dose xylazine, but no such effects were observed in rats treated with either drug alone. Withdrawal severity was greater in male rats compared to females across all treatment conditions (p < 0.05). Findings suggest that xylazine intensifies fentanyl withdrawal and highlights the need for tailored interventions to address withdrawal from this increasingly common drug combination. Read the study here.

Earlier this week, a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication was released, focusing on key analytical challenges related to the detection of illicit drugs, including synthetic opioids, stimulants, and novel psychoactive substances (NPS). Specific findings highlighted that current drug detection methods struggle with rapid identification, particularly for fentanyl analogs and synthetic cannabinoids, and emphasized that data-sharing protocols are inconsistent, leading to delays in tracking emerging drug trends. The report recommended standardized data structures and improved sharing for high-risk substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine, urging NIST to leverage technologies like portable mass spectrometry and enhance forensic science training to improve detection speed and accuracy across agencies. Read the report here.

Earlier this week, NPR interviewed Dr. Nora Volkow, head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Dr. Daniel Ciccarone (NDEWS SAG member), several addiction experts, and individuals with lived experiences in substance use, as well as harm reductionists, to discuss recent CDC data showing a significant 10.6% decrease in U.S. drug overdose deaths, reversing a decades-long trend of rising fatalities. This reduction equates to approximately 20,000 fewer deaths annually. In states with advanced real-time data systems, such as Ohio and Vermont, overdose mortality rates have dropped by 22% to 34% in 2024. Naloxone distribution has tripled, with 85% of high-risk users in areas like Seattle now carrying the life-saving medication. These public health interventions, along with reduced availability of high-purity fentanyl due to law enforcement efforts targeting drug supply chains, are believed to be key contributors to the decline. Read the report here.

This week, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced a notice of intent to temporarily schedule two synthetic opioids, N-pyrrolidino metonitazene and N-pyrrolidino protonitazene, under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). These substances, including their isomers and salts, have no accepted medical use and are linked to the opioid overdose crisis. The rule, under Docket No. DEA-1337, imposes strict controls on manufacturing, distribution, research, and possession, with associated civil and criminal penalties.The rule takes effect on September 17, 2024, with temporary scheduling lasting up to two years, extendable by one year, pending a permanent decision. Read the notice here.

Date: Friday, September 27th, 2024 from 12:30pm - 2:00pm ET

Location: Virtual

Learn more here. 

Date: Monday, November 11th to Wednesday, November 13th, 2024

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Learn more here. 

Share your research, news, and events through our submission 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