Geographical Differences in Self-Reported Past 12-Month Drug Use: Results from the NDEWS Rapid Street Reporting, 2021-2023.

BACKGROUND

The National Drug Early Warning System Rapid Street Reporting study monitors over 100 drugs to identify emerging use trends.

OBJECTIVES

This analysis examined geographical differences in the past 12-month self-reported drug use across 20 US urban cities, identifying the three most prevalent drugs reported, excluding alcohol.

METHODS

Adults (age ≥18) were surveyed in public settings using venue-intercept sampling over a weekend in each city between January 2022 and November 2023 regarding past 12-month drug use. We focused on the three most commonly reported drugs in each region. The prevalence of reported drug use by region was compared using generalized linear models with Poisson and log-link functions, adjusting for participant characteristics, time of year, and location.

RESULTS

Among 6,039 participants, cannabis for recreational use (50.3%), psilocybin (13.7%), and cocaine (11.0%) were the most commonly reported drugs used. While there were no regional differences in the prevalence of recreational cannabis use, psilocybin, and cocaine use were more commonly reported by people in the West versus the Midwest (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]=1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23, 2.06; aPR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.23, respectively). We also found a higher prevalence of cocaine use reported by participants in the Northeast compared to participants in the Midwest (aPR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.91).

CONCLUSIONS

Venue intercept survey method detected signals of recreational cannabis, psilocybin, and cocaine use in the 20 US urban cities visited over a weekend. Reported prevalence differed by region. This suggests that prevention messaging should be tailored to the specific US regions.