In 2020 Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) commissioned SUAB1 to adapt and develop the city of Manchester’s Emerging Drug Trends Monitoring System (MESUS3) to monitor emerging substance use trends across all ten local authority areas of Greater Manchester. This new Greater Manchester wide system has been named GM TRENDS (Greater Manchester: Testing and Research on Emergent and New Drugs). This report is the findings from the second GM TRENDS monitoring cycle and covers all of Greater Manchester - with a number of participating professionals working across the 10 geographical areas. 

GM TRENDS aims to gather up-to-date information on changing and emerging substance use trends in Greater Manchester. The findings inform the Greater Manchester Local Drugs Information System [GM LDIS 2.2.2] and are used to provide recommendations to local authorities regarding the development and delivery of services for substance users. The identification of emerging trends helps to ensure that commissioners, service providers and local professionals who come into contact with people who use drugs (PWUDs) are best placed to understand their local needs and the services required. The identification of at-risk groups in our communities is important to ensure that appropriate needs assessment and support are provided. This should include the development of appropriate harm reduction advice, staff training and awareness raising.