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Rapid identification of new drugs
through online monitoring tools
The case of NBOMe drugs

Dr Monica J. Barratt
Research
Fellow, NDRI, Melbourne
0407 778 938
m.barratt@curtin.edu.au
@monicabarratt
The challenge
•
•
•
•

New drugs are rapidly emerging
Survey research: months to years. if ever…
Secondary data: 1 to 3 years! if ever…
Can we better harness internet technologies to
monitor new drugs in real-time?
Real-time online monitoring
• What is happening here, right now?
• Four tools I will demonstrate today:
– Google trends
– Bluelight.ru (drug user forum)
– Twitter
– Silk Road (online drug marketplace)
Example: NBOMe drugs
• Classical hallucinogens
• Structurally similar to 2C-x class
– E.g. 25i-NBOMe related to 2C-I

•
•
•
•

Potency: microgram dosage, on blotters
Availability: easily sent in the post
Legality: analogue laws likely applicable
Public health: associated deaths and serious
incidents reported in media; scant other
published research
1. Google Trends
2. Forum (Bluelight.ru)
3. Twitter
4. Silk Road
Summary
• Real-time data on 25x-NBOMe (25 April, 2013)
1.
2.
3.
4.

Google Trends: search trend increasing in AU
Bluelight: sold in AU as is & as LSD; use reports
Twitter: no discussions in AU
Silk Road: available at high potency and low
price to AU customers
Limitations
• Not representative
• Multiple timepoints?
• Non-unique or unknown terminology
– e.g. National Board of Osteopathic Medical
Examiners

• Searching Twitter geographically is restrictive
• Information on harms?
Conclusion
• Demand for altered conscious states continues
• New drugs are marketed to meet this demand
• Freely available online tools can be used to
track new drug use in sentinel groups with no
delay
• This information can guide:
– our responses, e.g. harm reduction information
– additional research via surveys and indicator data

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Rapid identification of new drugs through online monitoring tools: The case of NBOMe drugs - Dr Monica J Barratt - DrugInfo seminar - New and emerging drugs

  • 1. Rapid identification of new drugs through online monitoring tools The case of NBOMe drugs Dr Monica J. Barratt Research Fellow, NDRI, Melbourne 0407 778 938 m.barratt@curtin.edu.au @monicabarratt
  • 2. The challenge • • • • New drugs are rapidly emerging Survey research: months to years. if ever… Secondary data: 1 to 3 years! if ever… Can we better harness internet technologies to monitor new drugs in real-time?
  • 3. Real-time online monitoring • What is happening here, right now? • Four tools I will demonstrate today: – Google trends – Bluelight.ru (drug user forum) – Twitter – Silk Road (online drug marketplace)
  • 4. Example: NBOMe drugs • Classical hallucinogens • Structurally similar to 2C-x class – E.g. 25i-NBOMe related to 2C-I • • • • Potency: microgram dosage, on blotters Availability: easily sent in the post Legality: analogue laws likely applicable Public health: associated deaths and serious incidents reported in media; scant other published research
  • 5.
  • 7.
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 12.
  • 14.
  • 15.
  • 16.
  • 17. Summary • Real-time data on 25x-NBOMe (25 April, 2013) 1. 2. 3. 4. Google Trends: search trend increasing in AU Bluelight: sold in AU as is & as LSD; use reports Twitter: no discussions in AU Silk Road: available at high potency and low price to AU customers
  • 18. Limitations • Not representative • Multiple timepoints? • Non-unique or unknown terminology – e.g. National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners • Searching Twitter geographically is restrictive • Information on harms?
  • 19. Conclusion • Demand for altered conscious states continues • New drugs are marketed to meet this demand • Freely available online tools can be used to track new drug use in sentinel groups with no delay • This information can guide: – our responses, e.g. harm reduction information – additional research via surveys and indicator data