A study published earlier this week by NDEWS predoctoral fellow Nicole Fitzgerald and Co-Investigator Dr. Joseph Palamar examined how the testing of ecstasy and detection of adulterants has changed between 2017 and 2022 among nightclub and festival attendees in NYC. In 2017, an estimated 23.1% of attendees had tested their ecstasy, and by 2022, this estimate increased to 43.1%. In 2017, 59.6% of those who tested their ecstasy reported finding out or suspecting their drug was adulterated, which then decreased to 18.4% in 2022. The authors noted that the continued interest in understanding ecstasy contents among this population suggests the need for formal drug checking services. Read the study here.

This week, NDEWS highlights counties with three or more alerts for methamphetamine, opioid, or non-opioid overdoses. There were a total of 19 alerts across 5 states and 6 counties. Read more here. Click here to read more about NDEWS Hotspot Alerts.

People who have used drugs are invited to join Virtual HealthStreet to participate in periodic anonymous, special topic surveys specifically to get a better understanding of emerging drug trends across the US. Join here.

A study recently published in the Journal of Adolescent Health described trends in psilocybin exposures among adolescents and young adults as reported to US poison centers over the past decade. Exposures to psilocybin by demographics, clinical effects, level of care, and medical outcome were examined. A total of 4,055 psilocybin-involved exposures were reported among adolescents and young adults during the 10-year study period. While there was no significant change in the number of cases from 2013 to 2018, cases began increasing in 2019, and in 2022, cases more than tripled among adolescents and more than doubled among young adults compared to 2018. Of all psilocybin-involved exposures, males accounted for 74.8% of adolescents and 75.1% of young adults. There were two deaths reported in association with psilocybin, with fentanyl and hallucinogenic amphetamines reported as the primary cause of death in both. Read the study here.

A study recently published in JAMA Network Open examined awareness, preference, and adverse effects of xylazine adulteration of opioids among patients entering substance use disorder treatment. Among the 2,872 respondents, 45% were aware of xylazine; 90% of those who were aware of xylazine reported not preferring opioids containing xylazine. Non-Hispanic white individuals and those who identified heroin or fentanyl or commercial opioids as their primary substance were most likely to have knowledge of xylazine adulteration compared with people who reported a different primary substance. Overall, 68% of respondents reported adverse effects and 41% reported xylazine-associated withdrawal symptoms. Read the study here.

Earlier this week, the US Department of Health, and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced $36.9 million in notices of funding opportunities for grant programs supporting behavioral health services. Read the press release here.

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