A study recently published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, led by NIDA T32 predoctoral fellow Nae Yeon Won, identified demographic and drug-related correlates of providing hair samples in a multi-site venue-intercept study. Data was collected through the NDEWS Rapid Street Reporting study across 12 US cities between January and November 2022. Results showed that compared to males, those identifying as “other gender” had higher odds of hair provision. Participants identifying as Black or “other race” had lower odds of providing hair than those identifying as White. Read the study here.

What are nitazenes? Nitazenes, also known as benzimidazole opioids, are a class of synthetic opioids. Nitazenes generally have effects similar to other opioids including euphoria and analgesia.

What was found? Various nitazenes were the four most highly identified opioids in the Q4 2023 CFSRE NPS Opioid Trend Report. Nitazene discussion on Reddit for the past two months has been higher than any other point in the past three years.
 
How is it being discussed? Discussion primarily revolves around the proper dosage, and potential health issues. Many comments and posts are from Reddit users who have not tried any nitazenes but are interested in them. Perception is mostly negative. Commenters warn against long-term health risks, and potential for respiratory depression, addiction, and overdose. Positive discussion comes primarily from users recommending it as a less harmful substitute for fentanyl.
 
Drug Terms Searched: Protonitazene, metonitazene, N-pyrrolidino, N-desethyl isontonitazene, N-desethyl protonitazene, N-pyrrolidino metonitazene, N-desethyl etonitazene, N-desethyl metonitazene
 
Methodological Note: Data was collected and analyzed by the NDEWS Web Monitoring Team, led by Dr. Elan Barenholtz and NIDA T32 predoctoral fellow Daniel Van Zant of the Machine Perception and Cognitive Robotics (MPCR) Lab at Florida Atlantic University. Metrics are based on post counts derived from algorithmic monitoring of ~80 drug-oriented Subreddits. No personally identifiable or post-specific information is incorporated into this monitoring process. Due to modifications in our data collection protocols, the NDEWS Web Monitoring Team is currently unable to collect data for substances that generate high volumes of posts (e.g. xylazine or psilocybin). This temporary restriction, which is anticipated to persist until early June, reflects recent revisions to Reddit's Terms of Service on data gathering. For more methodological details, see our publication. 

This week's NDEWS Hotspot Alerts report includes 24 counties with higher-than-expected drug-related 911 dispatch counts over the previous 7-day period. California led the states in the number of counties that alerted. 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 paper recently published in Addiction Research & Theory, led by NDEWS Scientific Advisory Group member Dr. Katie Witkiewitz, presented a model that proposes greater consideration of dynamic behavioral ecological influences on recovery and offers an expanded contextualized approach to understanding and promoting recovery and predicting dynamic recovery pathways. The authors noted that examining behavior patterns through time in changing environmental contexts that include community and neighborhood-level variables and social determinants of health is critical for understanding recovery and developing multi-level interventions to promote change. Read the study here.

Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Time: 2:00 p.m. ET

Register here.

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