A partnership between the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) and the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) was established to comprehensively assess the role and prevalence of synthetic opioids and other drugs among suspected overdose events in the United States. Patients presented to emergency departments within ACMT’s Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC) experiencing a suspected opioid overdose. Residual, discarded biological samples were obtained for testing against an expansive library of drugs and other substances. Our findings provide a near real-time assessment of the drug market and allude to resulting implications on clinical institutions.
Summary / Key Findings:
▪ Geographical differences were observed, including within state (PA)
▪ Fentanyl was the most commonly detected opioid nationally (73%)
▪ Combined opioid and stimulant use was common nationally (59%)
▪ Several NPS were detected (including benzodiazepines & hallucinogens)
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