There have been reports (both in the past and more recently) that synthetic cannabinoids (Spice/K2) are being brought into prisons sometimes through the mail. Residents are experiencing seizures, acute psychotic episodes, and other serious symptoms from using these compounds. We, and NIDA, are seeking information you might have about this phenomenon. Please note that NDEWS has a partnership with NPS Discovery to test samples when necessary. Please submit your information via this form and reach out to us at ndews-cc@ufl.edu if you would like samples tested.

NDEWS recently received a media request asking for insight on pentobarbital trends in response to the recent DEA news release. According to the news release, the DEA recently seized five kilograms of pentobarbital along with other drugs (methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin) when agents busted a cartel-linked drug operation in Texas. In response, we surveyed some of our collaborators on trends they are seeing in their area. View the full report here.

What is lemon tekking? Lemon tekking is a method that involves combining psilocybin-containing mushrooms with lemon juice. Reddit users claim that this process dephosphorylates the psilocybin to create psilocin. The practice reportedly has some secondary effects over standard methods of consuming psilocybin. 
 
What was found? Lemon tekking has seen consistently high activity, in addition to an upward trend on Reddit since late 2023. It has also seen some trending discussion on Twitter.
 
How is it being discussed? According to online discussion, lemon tekking can significantly alter the standard psilocybin experience. Reddit users report that the lemon juice speeds up the metabolism of the psilocybin, resulting in a faster onset of the trip and increased intensity. However, the duration of the trip is said to be shorter compared to consuming mushrooms without lemon juice. Opinions on the overall experience of lemon tekking vary, with some users preferring this method, while others warn about the potential risks of consuming higher doses when lemon tekking, as the reported increase in potency may lead to an overwhelming experience.
 
Drug Terms: Lemon tek, lemon tekking
 
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 15 counties with higher-than-expected drug-related 911 dispatch counts over the previous 7-day period. 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.

Last month, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction published drug checking data from the Trans-European Data Information (TEDI) network. Interactive dashboards are available for amphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ketamine, MDMA powder, and MDMA tablets. View the dashboards here.

Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Time: 2:00 p.m. ET

Register here.

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