This week, the NDEWS Weekly Briefing focuses on the NDEWS Early Warning Network, including the August 2026 Sentinel Site Directors' (SSD) report, which highlights the prevalence of methamphetamine use. 

This briefing also features the latest NDEWS report from our Community-Based Health Expert Network that explores emerging drug trends and notable observations from their communities. Additionally, we have an informal network report from Medicolegal Death Investigators Network. 

As always, we welcome your input.

Click here for a PDF version of the report.

Click here to learn more about the NDEWS Sentinel Site Directors' Report.

Click here for a PDF version of the report.

Click here for a PDF version of the report.

Click here to learn more about the NDEWS Informal Network Reports.

- Gundy G, McMahan VM, Anderson N, Marti XL, Coffin PO. "I Know Far More Dead People Than I Do Live Ones": Social Isolation Among Older Adults Who Use Stimulants. Subst Use Addctn J. 2026 Aug 24:29767342261478829. DOI: 10.1177/29767342261478829. Online ahead of print. PMID: 42635400

- McMahan VM, Pope E, Luna Marti X, Liu AY, Coffin PO. Provider Perspectives on the Delivery of Long-Acting PrEP for HIV Prevention to Men Who Have Sex with Men and Who Use Methamphetamine. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2026 Aug 5:10872914261474992. DOI: 10.1177/10872914261474992. Online ahead of print. PMID: 42552859 

- Culbreth R, Brent J, Aldy K, Falise AM, Campleman S, Krotulski AJ, Mazer-Amirshahi M, Wax P; ToxIC DOTS Study Group. The Toxicology Investigators Consortium Drug Overdose Toxico-Surveillance Reporting Program for Emergency Department Opioid and Stimulant Overdoses. Public Health Rep. 2026 Aug 20:333549261477055. DOI: 10.1177/00333549261477055. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42623317; PMCID: PMC13493624.

- Kusko R, Liss D, House SL, House SB, Krotulski A, Aldy K; Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC) Fentalog Study Group. An Emerging Synthetic Opioid in the Drug Supply: A Case of Opioid Overdose with Biological Confirmation of Cychlorphine. J Med Toxicol. 2026 Jul 21. DOI: 10.1007/s13181-026-01146-4. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42481906.

NADDI's 37th Annual Conference is a pivotal gathering where innovative solutions are devised and esteemed stakeholders from across the United States and beyond converge to foster partnerships and collaboration. Join us as we engage in enlightening discussions aimed at confronting the urgent challenges posed by the fentanyl crisis and the epidemic of overdose deaths. We cordially invite you to participate in this vital exchange of ideas, taking place in the charming city of Covington, Kentucky.

When: November 9-13, 2026

Where: Cincinnati Marriott at River Center - Covington, Kentucky

Click here to register

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.

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.

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 Special Reports 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). 

NDEWS briefings, reports, and figures may be shared, reproduced, or excerpted, provided NDEWS is appropriately attributed, and a link to the original source material is included. NDEWS materials must not be sensationalized with language or imagery. Reference must be made to the most current version of the original NDEWS source material so as not to disseminate outdated or inaccurate information. NDEWS does not endorse or assume responsibility for third-party interpretation, commentary, or AI-generated content, including images, which use or reference NDEWS materials.