Rapid Street Reporting (RSR) is a national venue-intercept study focused on the NDEWS Sentinel Sites as well as “hotspot” locations. Hotspot sites are identified using US overdose trends captured in EMS encounter data from biospatial.io and other indicators within the NDEWS Early Warning Network that point to emerging drug trends in a specific geographic area. RSR data collection takes place over a weekend period, from Friday through Sunday.
Overview
The RSR initiative has collected real-time, self-reported drug use data from adults (age 18 and older) living in the US since COVID-19 travel restrictions were lifted in November 2021 and is planned to continue into 2030. Data collected as a part of this study complements traditional surveillance by capturing emerging drug trends in real‑world, everyday public settings. Over 9,500 participants have been surveyed to date.
The study consists of a roughly 10 minute anonymous survey-based interview which covers use of common drugs as well as new psychoactive substances (NPS) over the past 12 months, with most recent month of use, including:
Common / “traditional” substances
- Powder cocaine
- Crack
- Methamphetamine / crystal / speed
- Ecstasy / MDMA / Molly
- GHB / GBL
- Mushrooms / shrooms / psilocybin / products containing psilocybin or psilocin
- Note: additional follow up questions assess micrdosing of psilocybin
- PCP / angel dust
- Poppers / amyl nitrites / butyl nitrites
- Nitrous oxide / whippets / Galaxy Gas
- Other inhalants such as glue, paint, correction fluid, gasoline or similar [specify, text entry]
- Marijuana for recreational purposes
- Marijuana for medical purposes
- Delta-8 (type of THC)
- Delta-10 (type of THC)
- Alcohol
- Kratom
- Kava
- Non medical / non prescription use, or use that goes beyond prescription, of prescription stimulants Adderall, Ritalin, or another drug for ADHD
- Lean / sizzurp /purple drank
- Non medical/ non prescription use, or use that goes beyond prescription, of gabapentin
- Prescription benzodiazepines or ‘benzos’ – non medical / non prescription use, or use that goes beyond prescription
- Xanax / alprazolam
- Valium / diazepam
- Klonopin / clonazepam
- Ativan / lorazepam
- Rohypnol / roofies
- Other prescription benzo(s) [text entry, specify]
- Opioids
- Prescription opioids – non medical/ non prescription use, or use that goes beyond prescription
- Vicodin / other hydrocodone
- Oxycontin
- Other oxycodone such as Percocet, roxicodone
- Tramadol
- Codeine by itself or with Tylenol
- Morphine
- Dilaudid / other hydromorphone
- Methadone
- Other prescription opioid(s) [text entry, specify]
- Heroin
- Fentanyl / Fetty
- Prescription opioids – non medical/ non prescription use, or use that goes beyond prescription
Novel Psychoactive Substances
2Cs
- 2C-B / Nexus
- 2C-E / Europa
- 2C-I / smiles
- 2C-T-7 / T7 / Blue Mystic / 7th heaven
- Other 2Cs [ text entry, specify]
Benzodiazepines
- Other / non prescription benzodiazepines or ‘benzos’
- Bromazolam / Brom / Bromaz
- Etizolam
- Pyrazolam
- Other / non prescription benzo(s) [text entry, specify]
Dissociative Drugs
- MXE / Methoxetamine, Mexxy, Rofl copter, Special M
- 2-MeO-Ketamine (not ketamine)
- MXE-PCP (MXPCP) or 3-MeO-PCP
- 4-MeO-PCP
- Other dissociative drug(s) [text entry, specify]
Euphoric stimulants other than MDMA/ecstasy
- MDA not MDMA / sass /sassafras
- 4-FA
- 5/6-APB / Benzofury
- BZP
- MDEA / Eve
- MDAI / Woof woof
- PMA / PMMA
- TMA
- Other euphoric stimulant(s) [text entry, specify]
Opioids
- Other / non prescription opioids + NPS Non medical/ non prescription use, or use that goes beyond prescription
- Other fentanyls such as carfentanil ortho-Methylfentanyl
- Krocodil
- Isotonitazene / Iso or other nitazenes / zeens / zeenies / pyro / tony
- U-47700 / U4, pink, pinky
- Other / non prescription opioid(s) [text entry, specify]
Other psychedelics
- 1P-LSD (not regular LSD)
- ALD-52
- AL-LAD
- LSA
- LSZ
- Bromo Dragonfly
- DOM (STP) / DOC / DOI / DOB
- NBOMe
- Other psychedelic(s) [text entry, specify]
Synthetic cannabinoids
- Synthetic cannabinoids such as Spice or K2
Synthetic cathinones or ‘bath salts’
- Methylone / M1
- Flakka / alpha-PVP
- Mephedrone / 4-MMC / MCAT/ Meow Meow / Drone or other MMC drugs
- Butylone / B1
- MDPV
- Methcathinone / Cat / Jeff
- Methedrone
- Eutylone / ‘boot’
- Ethylone
- Pentylone or similar drugs such as N-ethylpentylone or N,N-dimethylpentylone
- Other ‘bath salts’ [text entry, specify]
Tryptamines
- DMT
- 5-MeO-DiPT / Foxy / Foxy methoxy
- 4-AcO-DMT
- 5-MeO-MiPT / Moxy
- AMT
- 4-AcO-DiPT
- 5-MeO-DMT / 5 / toad
- Other tryptamine(s) [text entry, specify]
Other novel psychoactive substances
- 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine)
- M30s / ‘blues’
- MGM-15 (Dihydro-7-hydroxy Mitragynine / DH-7OH-MIT / DHM) or MGM-16
- Medetomidine / ‘dex’ / ‘rhino tranq’ / ‘mede’ / ‘dex med’
- Tianeptine
- Tusi / tuci / tucibí / pink cocaine (not “2C” drugs such as 2C-B)
- Xylazine / ‘tranq’ / ‘tranq dope’
For most substance categories—excluding common or traditional drugs, synthetic cannabinoids, and other novel psychoactive substances—free response fields allow participants to report substances not captured by the survey at the time of data collection.
The survey also asks participants whether they experienced any adverse or unpleasant effects in the past 12 months related to their use of specific reported substances. Additional questions explore knowledge, carriage and experiences with naloxone as well as participants’ use of drug checking services in the past year. The survey concludes with free response questions that gather insights about any additional substances used in the past 12 months that were not otherwise addressed and participants’ awareness of new drugs or emerging drug trends in their community, including patterns of polysubstance use or co‑use.
Importance of biological samples in monitoring of NPS
As the unregulated drug supply in the US continues to change, it’s important to use multiple types of data to better understand the use NPS. While our anonymous survey covers common drugs and NPS, people often use NPS unknowingly or unintentionally, meaning self‑reported survey data alone may not accurately capture NPS use and can underestimate exposure. However, possible adverse effects reported by participants via survey can be linked to levels of NPS exposure detected through biological testing. The RSR study therefore collects biological samples alongside survey data to better assess substance exposure and related adverse effects. When paired with self‑reported information, collection of biological samples strengthen NDEWS’ capacity to identify early signals of trends and associated health risks, shaping a better understanding of substance use and overdose patterns with both local and national contexts.
From 2021 to 2025, we invited participants to provide a hair sample for testing. As of October 2025, RSR participants are instead invited to provide an anonymous oral fluid sample, tested through collaboration with the Center for Forensic Science Research & Education’s (CFSRE)
NPS Discovery program.
Oral fluid sample collection
Oral fluid testing provides information about the substance(s) detected, including unexpected substances such as adulterants, allowing participants to learn whether the substance(s) they believed they used matched what was actually present and whether additional substances were included without their knowledge. Offering participants their results back helps to improve understanding of drug supply risks and supports broader public health efforts to reduce substance-related harms.
This new approach was piloted in December 2025 as part of data collected in Gainesville, FL and has now replaced hair sample collection for all future RSR data collection. All participants who provide oral fluid are given an anonymous code and information on how they can access their oral fluid results.
For their self-reported responses, participants are compensated with a $2 bill upon survey completion; an additional $2 bill is given to those who provide oral fluid
As the NDEWS continues to monitor the changing landscape of drug use, substances assessed will change over time to best capture trends.
Last modified: 05/01/2026