# New psychoactive substance exposure among NYC nightclub and festival attendees

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $683,318

## Abstract

New psychoactive substances (NPS) such as fentanyl analogs, synthetic cannabinoids, and synthetic
cathinones (“bath salts”) continue to emerge at an alarming rate. We know very little about prevalence of
exposure or about effects of these drugs as they emerge—largely because most people exposed are unaware
that they used (as these are common adulterants added to drugs like ecstasy and heroin). More advanced
toxicology methods are needed to detect exposures and most toxicology studies rely on biospecimens from
those who have been hospitalized. Epidemiological survey framework including toxicology methods can help
overcome the biases of relying on poisonings and quickly provide information on exposure and effects to those
recently exposed, and to scientists and the public. As such, we propose this R01 which examines trends in
reported drug use among a high-risk population—electronic dance music (EDM) party attendees. People who
attend EDM events (at nightclubs and festivals) are at high risk for use of drugs—particularly NPS, cocaine,
ecstasy (MDMA, Molly), LSD, methamphetamine, and opioids—and related adverse outcomes, including
death. Given that this high-risk scene may serve as a bellwether for trends that diffuse to the general
population, results will help prevent use, overdose, and death not only among EDM partygoers, but also in the
general population. Through projects conducted by this team of investigators conducted between 2016 and
2021, we have identified dramatic increases in drug use and unintentional exposure to NPS. In this R01, we
will continue to utilize our current R01’s recruitment methods and validated rapid drug survey (which queries
use of >100 drugs) to estimate trends in drug use, but we will focus more on our new and innovative
toxicological methods. Our toxicology methods will now use saliva testing to test for exposure to >1,000 drugs
(including over 120 fentanyl analogs). All participants will be asked their willingness to provide a saliva sample
and to take a follow-up survey to assess potential drug-related adverse effects during their night out. We will
recruit 4,160 adults entering EDM parties continuously over four years using time-space sampling. This study
will allow us to determine who was recently exposed to NPS (which most other labs cannot yet detect) and
determine whether factors such as honesty and attention on the survey predict testing positive after not
reporting use (based on our modified Impression Management theoretical model). We have confirmed the
feasibility of our methods and propose four aims. First, we will estimate the extent to which saliva testing adds
to prevalence of reported drug use. Second, we will determine effect profiles of exposure to new NPS as they
emerge. Third, we will determine if events such as DEA scheduling of NPS predict changes in trends of NPS
exposure. Fourth, we will determine if shifts in use and adverse effects are a bellwether for drug-related
outcomes. We will rapidly...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10899696
- **Project number:** 5R01DA057289-02
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph J Palamar
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $683,318
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-15 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10899696

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10899696, New psychoactive substance exposure among NYC nightclub and festival attendees (5R01DA057289-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10899696. Licensed CC0.

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