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32 Results (showing 1 - 10)
Results sorted by posted date (newest first)
Results sorted by posted date (newest first)
Posted 10/23/2023 (updated 5/24/2024)
Using data from 77 harm reduction programs in 25 US states, researchers found that 12-15% of powder methamphetamine and powder cocaine also contained fentanyl although the prevalence varied geographically. Prevalence of fentanyl in crystal methamphetamine and crack cocaine was lower. Heroin and xylazine were also found in unregulated stimulants. Xylazine reduced the ability to detect fentanyl.
Posted 7/14/2023 (updated 3/28/2024)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data showing a significant increase – 276 percent in 21 jurisdictions from 2019 to 2022 – in overdose deaths involving Xylazine, a nonopioid sedative that’s been detected in illicitly manufactured fentanyl drug products.
Posted 2/28/2023 (updated 3/27/2024)
This study's objective was to develop and validate a survey tool to assess emergency department physician attitudes, clinical practice, and willingness to perform opiate harm reduction interventions. After surveying physicians, most showed they were willing to provide necessary interventions, while few do perform them. Although there was an increased willingness to perform the interventions, a disparity remains.
Posted 2/1/2023 (updated 3/27/2024)
This study looks at how common the presence of alcohol is in opioid overdose deaths. While there are "waves" of the opioid crisis, the authors studied how alcohol affect individuals in this fourth wave as it is characterized by opioid-stimulant polysubstance use.
Posted 11/15/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
In this decision analytical model study evaluating the distribution of 10 000 additional naloxone kits annually in Rhode Island, the strategy focusing on distribution of naloxone according to geographic need to people who inject drugs resulted in the best outcomes at the lowest cost, averting an estimated 25.3% of opioid overdose deaths at an incremental cost of $27 312 per opioid overdose death averted
Posted 10/3/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
Nitazenes are a novel group of powerful illicit synthetic opioids derived from 2-benzylbenzimidazole that have been linked to overdose deaths in several states. Nitazenes were created as a potential pain reliever medication nearly 60 years ago but have never been approved for use in the United States. Laboratory test results indicate that the potency of certain nitazene analogs (e.g., isotonitazene, protonitazene, and etonitazene) greatly exceeds that of fentanyl, whereas the potency of the analog metonitazene is similar to fentanyl.
Posted 8/23/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
In this cross-sectional, multistate study of rural communities, 79% of people using drugs reported past-30-day methamphetamine use; nonfatal overdose was greatest in people using both methamphetamine and opioids (22%) vs opioids alone (14%), or methamphetamine alone (6%). People using both substances reported the least access to treatment; only 17% of those using methamphetamine alone had naloxone.
Posted 7/25/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
In New York City (NYC), there were 2062 overdose fatalities in 2020, the deadliest year on record for NYC and the US. Fentanyl and its analogs were the most common substances involved in overdose deaths in NYC, present in 77% of such deaths in 2020. A characteristic of fentanyl-involved overdose is rapid onset of overdose symptoms; however, with timely administration of oxygen or naloxone, deaths can be averted.
Posted 5/11/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
The rate of drug overdose deaths in the USA has more than tripled since the turn of the century, and rates are disproportionately high among the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) population. Little is known about the overall historical trends in AI/AN opioid-only and opioid/polysubstance-related mortality. This study will address this gap.
Posted 5/10/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
Background: Drug checking uses analytical chemistry technologies to report on the composition of drugs from the unregulated market to reduce substance use-related risks, while additionally allowing for monitoring and reporting of the supply. In the context of an overdose crisis linked to fentanyl, we used drug checking data to examine variability within the illicit opioid supply.