Early drug warning system in works.

• Position: Drug Abuse - Brief article

A National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) is being developed to monitor emerging trends that will help health specialists respond quickly to potential outbreaks of illicit drugs such as heroin and to identify increased use of designer synthetic compounds. 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 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," explains Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

"By monitoring trends at the local level, we hope to prevent emerging drug problems from escalating or spreading to surrounding regions."

Information about designer synthetic drugs--including different ways to possess and use them--is disseminated rapidly to millions of people through the Internet and social media...