How the federal government is tracking changes in the supply of street drugs
1 min read
Summary
The US state of Maryland has been tackling a surge in drug overdoses, with fatalities at an all-time high.
Authorities initially believed the increased death rate was due to changes in the supply of drugs, particularly the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
However, the Maryland officials lacked data to understand these trends in real-time, with the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) data offering limited detail and often coming six to nine months after seizures.
To help address this, Maryland officials engaged with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which has developed techniques to detect trace elements of drugs and explosives.
These methods enable testing to be carried out by swiping the outside of drug bags, meaning officials no longer need to open bags or handle unidentified powders.
Results can now be obtained within 24 hours, with the technology also able to detect other dangerous chemicals such as acetaminophen and rat poison.