Center for Advanced Study of Language (CASL) researchers developed the NDEWS study with Coordinating Center staff to explore the ability to use big data collected from Twitter to discover new drug synonyms. This study used machine learning to build a model where researchers could enter a known drug term and get back synonyms, some of which might be unknown to the researchers. The presentation will highlight what this method revealed for marijuana terms on Twitter. Ongoing efforts are expanding this to terms for opioids and to using Reddit.

Presenters: 
Claudia M. Brugman, Ph.D.
Research Scientist and Technical Director for Language in Social Systems
Center for Advanced Study of Language
University of Maryland - College Park 

Nikki Adams, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Scientist
Center for Advanced Study of Language
CESAR Affiliate
University of Maryland - College Park