Using social media to track the opioid epidemic
Official title: Tracking the opioid epidemic with social media: an early warning system
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10588908 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how social media, like Reddit and Twitter, can help us understand the opioid crisis by tracking conversations about fentanyl, so we can spot areas where opioid use is high and find out what might lead to dangerous situations, ultimately helping public health efforts to save lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $432,850 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DA057598-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10588908 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals affected by opioid use or those living in areas with high opioid-related mortality rates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in or affected by opioid use or the opioid epidemic may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter can be utilized to monitor the opioid epidemic, particularly focusing on fentanyl-related discussions. By analyzing posts, the research aims to identify hotspots of opioid use and assess factors that may predict deadly usage, such as the presence of naloxone and the use of other drugs. The study will aggregate data at various geographic levels to improve the detection of opioid-related mortality trends over time. This innovative approach seeks to provide timely insights that could inform public health responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the ability to detect and respond to opioid crises more effectively, potentially saving lives.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using social media data for public health monitoring, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Altman, Russ Biagio — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Altman, Russ Biagio
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.