This month, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is celebrating the first national Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month — a time to raise awareness on substance use disorders, offer support, share resources, and break down barriers that keep people from seeking help. Learn more here.

Additionally, this month celebrates the official launch of the Center for Addiction Recovery Support (CARS), a collaboration by SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery and One World Recovery Network (OWRN). The goal of CARS is to provide essential training and technical assistance (TTA) to strengthen nationwide substance use recovery support services for communities. Learn more about CARS here.

This week, NDEWS highlights counties with alerts for nonfatal overdoses involving opioids and non-opioids. Among states with at least 75% coverage, there were a total of 100 alerts across 20 states, from 77 different counties during the period November 1 to December 31, 2024.

Click here to read the full report.

Click here to learn more about NDEWS Hotspot Alerts.

What is 4-MeTMP? 4-MeTMP, also known as 4-methylmethylphenidate, is a stimulant chemically related to methylphenidate. It has lower efficacy in blocking dopamine reuptake compared to methylphenidate.

What was found? Analysis of online discussions reveals that 4-MeTMP has been a topic of interest on Reddit since 2017. However, a significant trend emerged in September 2024, marking the beginning of an ongoing surge in discussions about the substance. This recent spike represents the all-time peak for 4-MeTMP-related conversations on the platform. 

How is it being discussed? On Reddit, 4-MeTMP is often described as an overlooked stimulant with a unique profile of effects. Reddit users note that it has lower potency than 4F-MPH but fewer side effects. Many report that 4-MeTMP provides euphoria and focus. Discussions frequently mention that 4-MeTMP feels similar to regular methylphenidate but is perceived as smoother and more relaxing. Some commenters report potential health risks associated with 4-MeTMP use. Some Reddit users mention the possibility of liver issues, kidney problems, and rhinitis, depending on the batch quality.

Drug Terms: 4-MeTMP, 4-methylmethylphenidate

Click here to read more about NDEWS Online Monitoring.

A recently published analysis in Drug and Alcohol Dependence led by NDEWS Deputy Director, Dr. Joseph Palamar, and NDEWS affiliate, Dr. Joshua Black, highlights a doubling of ketamine-related poisonings in the United States from 205 cases in 2019 to 414 in 2023. The analysis reveals significant shifts in usage patterns, including a 41.7% increase in ingestion and a 36.7% decrease in liquid ketamine use. Suspected suicide attempts involving ketamine more than doubled, while co-use with substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines surged. Poisonings involving ketamine are at their highest in reporting history.

Read the study here.

NDEWS Deputy Director, Dr. Joseph Palamar, was featured in CNN’s exclusive documentary 'Special K: The Science & Stigma of Ketamine.' The documentary explores ketamine’s evolution from a battlefield anesthetic to a party drug, and now to a promising treatment for mental health disorders. Dr. Palamar provides expert insights into the risks and challenges of an unregulated ketamine landscape.

Watch now on CNN’s website, YouTube, or from the CNN FlashDocs library

This week, a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted a national outbreak of severe adverse health outcomes linked to the consumption of Diamond Shruumz–brand mushroom-based psychoactive products. Between June and October 2024, 180 cases, including three deaths, were reported across 34 states. These products, marketed as chocolate bars, gummies, and cones, have been associated with neurological and cardiac symptoms such as seizures, respiratory depression, and tachycardia. Some cases required hospitalization, with symptoms including loss of consciousness, intubation, and prolonged muscle rigidity.

Read the full report here.

A recent Addiction Outlook column in Psychology Today by Dr. Mark Gold highlights psilocybin's potential in palliative care for terminally ill patients. Studies, including work by the late Dr. Roland Griffiths at Johns Hopkins, show that a single dose of psilocybin with psychotherapy significantly reduces anxiety, depression, and existential distress, with benefits lasting up to six months. Psilocybin acts on the brain's default mode network, disrupting rumination and fear, and inducing transformative mystical experiences. Recognized by the FDA with Breakthrough Therapy status for depression, psilocybin is undergoing Phase 3 trials to expand its clinical applications, signaling a breakthrough in addressing end-of-life mental health challenges.

Read more here. 

This week, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Dr. Nora Volkow, emphasized the need for comprehensive cannabis research amid rising use and evolving policies. Between 2012 and 2022, past-year cannabis use among Americans aged 12+ nearly doubled, from 11% to 22%. Among seniors 65+, use has skyrocketed, reflecting a major demographic shift. High-potency THC products and synthetic cannabinoids are linked to rising emergency department visits, with cases of psychosis, hyperemesis syndrome, and impaired driving becoming more common.

Read the article here.

The University of Florida Substance Abuse Training Center in Public Health (PI/Director, Linda B. Cottler) is seeking applicants who are interested in working with NDEWS through a postdoctoral fellowship. The T32 program provides a stipend, based on years of experience, as well as a $1,000 travel allowance each year for presenting research results and funds for training-related expenses that cover health insurance along with items like software, books, or computing equipment. Fellowships are for two years, and we are seeking someone to start before June 2025.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or non-citizen national. The program utilizes a mentoring mosaic to provide a rich and collaborative training experience, and NDEWS offers an opportunity to be at the forefront of substance use surveillance research. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so don’t delay! 

Click here for more information.

📅 Date: January 29, 2025

⏰ Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am ET

📍Location: Virtual

Learn more here.

📅 Date: January 30, 2025

⏰ Time: 2:00 pm ET

📍Location: Virtual

Learn more here.

📅 Date: January 31, 2025

⏰ Time: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm CT

📍Location: Virtual or live at Tulane Tidewater Building 1440 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA

Learn more here.

📅 Dates: May 29 - May 30, 2025

🗓️ Submission deadline: February 19, 2025

📍Location: UF Academic and Research Center at Lake Nona, Orlando, FL

Learn more here.

📅 Dates: June 2 - 4, 2025

🗓️ Submission deadline: March 1, 2025

📍 Location: University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

Learn more here.

📅 Dates: November 17 - 19, 2025

🗓️ Submission deadline: January 27, 2025

📍 Location: University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

Learn more 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 911 EMS dispatch 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 (PI: Cottler, Co-Is: Goldberger, Nixon, Striley), New York University (Deputy Director: Palamar), and Florida Atlantic University (Co-I: Barenholtz). Any item may be reproduced provided the source is acknowledged.