WASHINGTON, United States of America – July 2014 Through a cooperation with the University of Maryland’s Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR), the National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) will be the first American national public health surveillance system with the ability to identify emerging drug trends and quickly disseminate information to the public using traditional and social media, websites, publications and newsletters. Through a special focus on synthetic drugs this system will help health experts respond quickly to identify increased use of new psychoactive substances (NPS). The system will scan social media and Web platforms to identify new trends as well as use conventional national- and local-level data resources.“NDEWS will generate critically needed real-time information about new drug trends in specific locations around the country so rapid, informed, and effective public health responses can be developed precisely where needed,” said NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. “By monitoring trends at the local level, we hope to prevent emerging drug problems from escalating or spreading to surrounding regions.”

For further information please see:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/news-releases/2014/07/nih-system-to-monitor-emerging-drug-trends