SENTRY

About Sentry

The National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) SENTRY is an Internet-based system designed to collect and disseminate synthetic drug-related data in order to identify new trends at an early stage, evaluate their likely importance, and track their development.

SENTRY focuses on synthetic drugs that are primarily produced via a chemical process, such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as ecstasy), and methamphetamine. To be truly effective as an early warning system, however, the system also monitors prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, botanical substances and extracts, and chemicals and products involved in the manufacturing of synthetic drugs.

SENTRY is accessible via the NDIC Internet site. From the SENTRY web site, authorized users can submit information on a new or unusual synthetic drug-related activity via an electronic submission form, link to partner agencies and our listserv, search and receive NDIC products, and view previously reported submissions using the geographic information system capabilities.

SENTRY welcomes partnerships at multiple levels--federal, state, and local. Current partners include the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and National Institute on Drug Abuse. In addition, a network of correctional officers, drug diversion investigators, emergency medical personnel, forensic chemists, juvenile detention officers, law enforcement officers, medical toxicologists, school nurses, school resource officers, and treatment providers have joined the SENTRY partnership.

NDIC uses the information obtained through SENTRY, combines it with additional information, and produces and disseminates Drug Alert Watch and Drug Alert Warning reports. A Drug Alert Watch report is issued when a pattern of synthetic drug-related activity is first identified. The Drug Alert Watch report relies heavily on qualitative information obtained from our wide network of partners. Once a pattern is established, NDIC continues collecting and evaluating additional information.

When a trend is detected, a Drug Alert Warning is issued. A Drug Alert Warning combines the qualitative data collected in the Drug Alert Watch phase with quantitative data collected by NDIC analysts and our partners.

SENTRY is operated by NDIC in coordination with ONDCP and supports the National Synthetic Drugs Action Plan.

How to Participate

To participate in SENTRY and report emerging synthetic drug-related issues in your area, please provide the following information, typed on your agency letterhead, and fax it to (814) 532-5858:

1. Contact information including:
    
   1. Name and title of requestor
       
   2. Requestor's role within your agency; please choose only one
      1. Chemist
      2. Education provider (teacher, administrator, school resource officer, school nurse)
      3. Law enforcement officer
      4. Treatment provider to include physicians specializing in drug abuse issues
      5. Medical service personnel (physician, nurse, emergency medical technician, medical examiner)
      6. Other, please explain
          
2. Complete mailing address (do not use post office box numbers)
    
3. E-mail address
    
4. Phone number
    
5. Fax number
    
6. Signature of requestor

Submitters agree to be contacted to validate information.

An NDIC analyst will phone you within 5 business days with your log-in information. The NDIC reserves the right to verify the identity of the registrants and to deny access to SENTRY.

Any release of SENTRY information beyond this community is not authorized without the prior written authority of NDIC. Unauthorized releases of SENTRY information may result in the termination of the offending user or agency/organization’s access to the SENTRY system.

To Top

More Information

For more information on NDIC or SENTRY, contact:

Collections Management Group
National Drug Intelligence Center
319 Washington Street, 5th Floor
Johnstown, PA 15901-1622
Telephone: (814) 532-5888
FAX: (814) 532-5858

NDIC publications are available on the following web sites:

Internet: ww.usdoj.gov/ndic
ADNET: http://ndicosa.adnet.sgov.gov
RISS: ndic.riss.net
LEO: https://www.leo.gov/http://leowcs.leopriv.gov/lesig/ndic/index.htm

NDIC is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice and is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The NDIC mission is to provide strategic drug-related intelligence and assistance to the drug control, public health, and national security authorities of the United States in order to reduce the adverse impact of drug trafficking, drug abuse, and related harms to the United States.

To Top