fentanyl

The effects of opioid policy changes on transitions from prescription opioids to heroin, fentanyl and injection drug use: a qualitative analysis

Dickson-Gomez, J., Krechel, S., Spector, A. et al. The effects of opioid policy changes on transitions from prescription opioids to heroin, fentanyl and injection drug use: a qualitative analysis. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 17, 55 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-022-00480-4
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Background

Beginning in the 1990s, non-medical use of prescription opioids (POs) became a major public health crisis.

Fentanyl Deaths on the Rise

Deaths caused by the drug fentanyl are on the rise in the UK, a recent report published by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) warns. The report, which included a a literature review of the effects of fentanyl, details of misuse of the compound, and a summary of the associated harms as documented internationally and in the UK, found that deaths related to Fentanyl have risen from eight in 2008 to 135

Overdose Deaths Involving Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogs — New York City, 2000–2017

Colon-Berezin C, Nolan ML, Blachman-Forshay J, Paone D. Overdose Deaths Involving Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogs — New York City, 2000–2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019;68:37–40. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6802a3
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Summary

What is already known about this topic?

During 1999–2017, the rate of drug overdose deaths nationally approximately tripled; approximately 70,000 overdose deaths occurred nationally in 2017, with nearly 68% involving an opioid.

What is added by this report?

Drugs Most Frequently Involved in Drug Overdose Deaths: United States, 2011–2016

Hedegaard H, Bastian BA, Trinidad JP, Spencer M, Warner M. Drugs most frequently involved in drug overdose deaths: United States, 2011–2016. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 67 no 9. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2018.
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Abstract

Objective: This report identifies the specific drugs involved most frequently in drug overdose deaths in the United States from 2011 through 2016.

Heroin Uncertainties: Exploring Users’ Perceptions of Fentanyl-Adulterated and -Substituted ‘Heroin’

Ciccarone, Daniel et al. (2017). Heroin uncertainties: Exploring users’ perceptions of fentanyl-adulterated and -substituted ‘heroin’. International Journal of Drug Policy , Volume 46 , 146 - 155
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Abstract

Background

The US is experiencing an unprecedented opioid overdose epidemic fostered in recent years by regional contamination of the heroin supply with the fentanyl family of synthetic opioids. Since 2011 opioid-related overdose deaths in the East Coast state of Massachusetts have more than tripled, with 75% of the 1374 deaths with an available toxicology positive for fentanyl.