About DrugClock

Understanding our methodology, data sources, and commitment to transparency.

Methodology

DrugClock aggregates and visualizes data from official U.S. government sources to provide a comprehensive view of drug trafficking and its public health impact. Our approach focuses on:

  • Data Integrity: We only use official government data sources, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
  • Transparency: All data transformations and calculations are documented and can be verified against original sources.
  • Timeliness: Automated pipelines ensure data is updated as soon as source agencies publish new information.
  • Context: We provide historical trends and comparative analysis to help users understand the significance of current data.

Data Sources

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Monthly

Official drug seizure statistics from ports of entry and border patrol operations.

Seizure quantitiesDrug typesLocation dataPort of entry
View source data

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Monthly (6-week lag)

National Vital Statistics System rapid release of drug overdose death counts.

Overdose deathsDrug involvementState-level dataDemographic breakdown
View source data

Update Schedule

Weekly

  • CDC overdose statistics (6-week reporting lag)
  • Trend calculations
  • Venezuela focus updates

Monthly

  • CBP seizure data processing (1st of month)
  • Comprehensive reports
  • Data reconciliation

Data Limitations & Disclaimer

Important considerations when interpreting this data:

  • Seizure data represents interdiction success, not total trafficking volume. Actual drug flows are estimated to be significantly higher than what is seized.
  • Overdose death data has a reporting lag. CDC provisional counts are typically 6 weeks behind and may be revised upward as death certificates are processed.
  • Drug involvement in deaths often overlaps. Many overdose deaths involve multiple substances, so totals by drug type may exceed total deaths.
  • This is not a law enforcement or intelligence tool. DrugClock is intended for educational and research purposes only.

DrugClock is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any U.S. government agency. Data is presented as-is from official sources.