Using social media data to monitor substance use trends
Official title: Mining Social Media Big Data for Toxicovigilance: Studying Substance Use via Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning Methods
Funded at Emory University · NIH-10588855 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how social media can help us understand more about substance use and addiction by analyzing what people are saying online, especially about synthetic opioids and other drugs, to find patterns that could improve support and treatment for those struggling with these issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $1,272,404 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA057599-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10588855 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who actively discuss their substance use experiences on social media platforms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not engage with social media or who do not have substance use issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social media can be leveraged to gather real-time insights about substance use and substance use disorders. By employing advanced techniques in natural language processing and machine learning, the study aims to analyze discussions and experiences shared by individuals online regarding their substance use. This approach seeks to identify trends and disparities in substance use across different populations, particularly focusing on the impact of synthetic opioids and other drugs. The findings could help inform public health responses and improve treatment strategies for those affected by substance use disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more timely and effective interventions for individuals struggling with substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using social media data for public health surveillance, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sarker, Abeed H — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Sarker, Abeed H
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.