Zheng Dai1, Marie A Abate2, Gordon S Smith3, James C Kraner4, Allen R Mock5. 1. School of Public Health, West Virginia University, One Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States. Electronic address: zd0001@hsc.wvu.edu. 2. School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, 1124 Health Sciences North, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States. Electronic address: mabate@hsc.wvu.edu. 3. School of Public Health, West Virginia University, One Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States. Electronic address: gordon.smith@hsc.wvu.edu. 4. West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, 619 Virginia Street West, Charleston, WV 25302, United States. Electronic address: james.c.kraner@wv.gov. 5. West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, 619 Virginia Street West, Charleston, WV 25302, United States. Electronic address: allen.r.mock@wv.gov.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To describe and analyze the involvement of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs (FAs) in drug-related deaths in West Virginia (WV), United States. METHODS: Retrospective analyses of all WV drug-related deaths from 2005 to 2017 were performed, including comparisons of demographic and toxicological characteristics among total deaths, deaths in which fentanyl/FAs were present, deaths in which they were absent, heroin-related deaths, and prescription opioid-related deaths. RESULTS: Most of the 8813 drug-related deaths were overdoses, with about 11% resulting from transportation/other injuries in which drugs were contributors. Prescription opioid presence (without fentanyl) decreased by 75% from 2005-14 to 2015-17 (3545 deaths to 859 deaths, respectively), while fentanyl involvement in the deaths increased by 122% between these periods (487 to 1082 deaths). Ten FAs were identified (427 instances) after 2015. Alprazolam and ethanol were among the top five most frequently identified substances across years. Fentanyl, heroin and cocaine replaced oxycodone, diazepam and hydrocodone in the top five beginning in 2015. Few decedents had a prescription for fentanyl after 2015, with fewer prescriptions also present for other controlled substances identified. CONCLUSIONS: Fentanyl, rapidly emerging FAs, and other illicit drugs in recent years pose a serious health threat even though prescription opioid-related deaths decreased over the same time period.
BACKGROUND: To describe and analyze the involvement of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs (FAs) in drug-related deaths in West Virginia (WV), United States. METHODS: Retrospective analyses of all WV drug-related deaths from 2005 to 2017 were performed, including comparisons of demographic and toxicological characteristics among total deaths, deaths in which fentanyl/FAs were present, deaths in which they were absent, heroin-related deaths, and prescription opioid-related deaths. RESULTS: Most of the 8813 drug-related deaths were overdoses, with about 11% resulting from transportation/other injuries in which drugs were contributors. Prescription opioid presence (without fentanyl) decreased by 75% from 2005-14 to 2015-17 (3545 deaths to 859 deaths, respectively), while fentanyl involvement in the deaths increased by 122% between these periods (487 to 1082 deaths). Ten FAs were identified (427 instances) after 2015. Alprazolam and ethanol were among the top five most frequently identified substances across years. Fentanyl, heroin and cocaine replaced oxycodone, diazepam and hydrocodone in the top five beginning in 2015. Few decedents had a prescription for fentanyl after 2015, with fewer prescriptions also present for other controlled substances identified. CONCLUSIONS:Fentanyl, rapidly emerging FAs, and other illicit drugs in recent years pose a serious health threat even though prescription opioid-related deaths decreased over the same time period.
Authors: Svetla Slavova; Julia F Costich; Terry L Bunn; Huong Luu; Michael Singleton; Sarah L Hargrove; Jeremy S Triplett; Dana Quesinberry; William Ralston; Van Ingram Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2017-07-18
Authors: Ian R H Rockett; Eric D Caine; Hilary S Connery; Gail D'Onofrio; David J Gunnell; Ted R Miller; Kurt B Nolte; Mark S Kaplan; Nestor D Kapusta; Christa L Lilly; Lewis S Nelson; Sandra L Putnam; Steven Stack; Peeter Värnik; Lynn R Webster; Haomiao Jia Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-01-10 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Zheng Dai; Marie A Abate; D Leann Long; Gordon S Smith; Theresa M Halki; James C Kraner; Allen R Mock Journal: Forensic Sci Int Date: 2020-05-31 Impact factor: 2.395
Authors: A Salomone; R Bigiarini; J J Palamar; C McKnight; L Vinsick; E Amante; D Di Corcia; M Vincenti Journal: J Anal Toxicol Date: 2020-05-18 Impact factor: 3.367
Authors: Amanda L A Mohr; Barry K Logan; Melissa F Fogarty; Alex J Krotulski; Donna M Papsun; Sherri L Kacinko; Marilyn A Huestis; Jeri D Ropero-Miller Journal: J Anal Toxicol Date: 2022-07-14 Impact factor: 3.220
Authors: Hilary S Connery; Nadine Taghian; Jungjin Kim; Margaret Griffin; Ian R H Rockett; Roger D Weiss; R Kathryn McHugh Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2019-10-05 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Ryan R Cook; Randy Torralva; Caroline King; Paula J Lum; Hansel Tookes; Canyon Foot; Pamela Vergara-Rodriguez; Allan Rodriguez; Laura Fanucchi; Gregory M Lucas; Elizabeth N Waddell; P Todd Korthuis Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2021-09-20 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Ruben F Kranenburg; Joshka Verduin; Yannick Weesepoel; Martin Alewijn; Marcel Heerschop; Ger Koomen; Peter Keizers; Frank Bakker; Fionn Wallace; Annette van Esch; Annemieke Hulsbergen; Arian C van Asten Journal: Drug Test Anal Date: 2020-07-27 Impact factor: 3.345