| BRIEF COMMUNICATION |
|
| Year : 2016 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 2 | Page : 111-114 |
|
|
Resurgence of Fentanyl as a Drug of Abuse
Lauren P Tamburro, Jenan H Al-Hadidi, Ljubisa Jovan Dragovic
Department of Public Services, Oakland County Medical Examiners' Office, Oakland County, Pontiac, Michigan 48341, USA
Correspondence Address:
Ljubisa Jovan Dragovic
Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office, Oakland County, 1200 N. Telegraph #28 East, Pontiac, Michigan 4834
USA
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2349-5014.184195
|
|
|
Fentanyl, a powerful opioid analgesic introduced over 50 years ago, has a major role in modern anesthesia and chronic pain relief but has also gained a major role in illicit use. After a spike in fentanyl abuse between 2005 and 2007, fentanyl deaths decreased until 2010, with the introduction of “abuse-deterrent” OxyContin. Our data indicate a recent rise in fentanyl-related deaths beginning in 2013, which follows national trends. With the re-emergence of the synthetic narcotic analgesic of high potency as a popular drug of abuse and the alarmingly increasing mortality associated with its abuse, there are profound implications for public health, health care providers, law enforcement, and the society in general. |
|
|
|
| [FULL TEXT] [PDF]* |
|
 |
|
