The rapid proliferation of new drugs available to Australians has necessitated the use of innovative techniques to monitor their emergence. In this presentation, Monica uses the example of NBOMe drugs (reportedly sold as ‘legal LSD’) to outline 4 ways of monitoring drug use trends online and in real-time (Google Trends, drug user forums, Twitter, and Silk Road). These tools are freely available for use by clinicians, AOD workers and researchers who are seeking further information about new drugs presented by clients, or that are talked about in their work.

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
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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
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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

6. 1. Google Trends

8. 2. Forum (Bluelight.ru)

11. 3. Twitter

13. 4. Silk Road

17. Summary
• Real-time data on 25x-NBOMe (25 April, 2013)
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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