In this week’s report, NDEWS highlights observations from biospatial detailing EMS dispatches in response to nonfatal fentanyl-related overdoses in the US during 2024. Between January 1 and December 31, 2024, there were 65,510 nonfatal fentanyl-related overdoses identified by biospatial. The graphs included in this report provide demographic breakdowns, including age, sex and race.

To view the Special Report and demographics, click here for the full report.

Click here to learn more about NDEWS Hotspot Alerts.

A recent JAMA Network Open study, co-authored by Dr. Phillip Coffin, an NDEWS Sentinel Site member, evaluated 175 low-dose initiation (LDI) attempts of buprenorphine among 126 adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) using fentanyl. Success was achieved in only 34% of cases, with similar outcomes between 4-day (38%) and 7-day (28%) protocols. Retention rates at 28 days were low—21% (4-day) and 18% (7-day). Repeated attempts reduced success significantly (AOR 0.30 for second attempts, 0.22 for third or more), and housing instability further decreased success (AOR 0.32 for transitional housing, 0.39 for unhoused).

Read more here.

A recent study published in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, co-authored by NDEWS SAG member Dr. Barry Logan and NDEWS affiliate Dr. Alex Krotulski, analyzed 537 opioid overdose cases from eight U.S. emergency departments participating in the Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC) Fentalog Study between September 2020 and October 2021. Blood samples were tested using liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to detect over 1,200 substances, including tramadol. Tramadol was identified in 15% of cases, with 96% involving co-exposure to fentanyl.

Read more here.

Image source: Andy Mabbett , CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the scheduling of five new psychoactive substances (NPS) and one medicine. These recommendations were based on data from the UNODC Early Warning Advisory (EWA), which identifies the most harmful and persistent NPS for international control. Four nitazenes, one semi-synthetic cannabinoid, and one medicine were recommended for scheduling, while a phencyclidine-type substance (3-hydroxy-phencyclidine) and a synthetic cathinone (N-ethylheptedrone) were advised to remain under surveillance.

Read the announcement here.

📅 Date: February 4, 2025

⏰ Time: 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm ET

📍 Location: 6001 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852

🗒️ Note: Members of the public who may wish to express views regarding any items discussed during this meeting may do so by writing Jeanette Marketon, within ten days of the meeting. Any written statements by members of the public will receive careful consideration.

Join the Videocast.

Learn more here.

📅 Date: February 14, 2025

⏰ Time: 10:00 am to 3:45 pm ET

📍 Location: Virtual

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.

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 U.S. 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 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.