Understanding research methods, limitations, and applications of drug data collected by the National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS‐Drug)

Author:

Pitts Wayne J.1ORCID,Heller David1,Smiley‐McDonald Hope1,Weimer BeLinda1,Grabenauer Megan1ORCID,Bollinger Katherine1,Ropero‐Miller Jeri1,Pressley DeMia2

Affiliation:

1. RTI International Research Triangle Park North Carolina USA

2. Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Control Division Springfield Virginia USA

Abstract

AbstractThe National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) is a drug surveillance program of the US Drug Enforcement Administration that systematically collects data on drugs that are seized by law enforcement and submitted to and analyzed by the Nation's forensic laboratories (NFLIS‐Drug). NFLIS‐Drug data are increasingly used in predictive modeling and drug surveillance to examine drug availability patterns. Given the complexity of the data and data collection, there are some common methodological pitfalls that we highlight with the aim of helping researchers avoid these concerns. The analysis done for this Technical Note is based on a review of the scientific literature that includes 428 unique, refereed article citations in 182 distinct journals published between January 1, 2005, and April 30, 2021. Each article was analyzed according to how NFLIS‐Drug data were mentioned and whether NFLIS‐Drug data were included. A sample of 37 articles was studied in‐depth, and data issues were summarized. Using examples from the literature, this Technical Note highlights eight broad concerns that have important implications for the proper applications, interpretations, and limitations of NFLIS‐Drug data with suggestions for improving research methods and accurate reporting of forensic drug data. NFLIS‐Drug data are timely and provide key information to inform drug use trends across the United States; however, our present analysis shows that NFLIS‐Drug data are misunderstood and represented in the literature. In addition to highlighting these issues, DEA has created several resources to assist NFLIS data users and researchers, which are summarized in the discussion.

Publisher

Wiley

Subject

Genetics,Pathology and Forensic Medicine

Cited by 9 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3