Out of the Box: New Methods to Identify Emerging Drug Threats

The continuing surge in drug overdose deaths demands that new methods be developed to expedite identification of changes in substance use disorder (SUD) and in the reporting of cases as effectively as possible. This session will feature two presentations about such “out of the box” methods to identify emerging drug threats.

Consistent with the nation recognizing that SUD is a disease, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) is exploring ways to integrate the state’s communicable disease surveillance reporting system with drug overdose surveillance. The goal was to provide a surveillance method to FDOH entities across the state to gather local data needed to inform their community-based prevention programs. Practically speaking, implementing statewide surveillance systems can be limited by the availability funds, technological platform capabilities, and time constraints. To mitigate these barriers, Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) at FDOH Palm Beach County developed the innovation of modifying the existing database used by all 67 counties to conduct epidemiologic investigations for communicable diseases.

Drug seizures by law enforcement are now understood to be an early warning of changes in drug trafficking and abuse trends, yet accurate and rapid identification of the specific drugs seized needs improvement. Broward County, Florida, is applying portable mass spectrometers in identifying drugs seized and then using the data to identify overdose hotspots and assist in targeting resource distribution, such as naloxone and fentanyl test strips. They use the data to educate hospitals on new drugs frequently used and help update hospital toxicology laboratory testing protocols. The county sheriff’s department and public health agency work collaboratively on this project.