A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shed light on a concerning trend in drug use associated with overdose deaths in the United States. The study, published on Thursday, is the most extensive of its kind, providing valuable insights into the methods of drug consumption that have led to tragic outcomes.
According to the lead author of the study, Lauren Tanz, the research was prompted by reports from California indicating an increase in the prevalence of smoking fentanyl as opposed to injecting it. This shift in drug consumption habits is particularly alarming as illicit versions of the potent painkiller fentanyl are implicated in a significant number of overdose deaths in the US.
While early research suggests that smoking fentanyl may pose a slightly lower risk of fatality compared to injecting it, both methods carry a substantial overdose risk. Tanz emphasized the importance of assessing whether a shift towards smoking fentanyl will ultimately reduce overdose deaths. The study aims to provide crucial insights into this evolving public health concern.
Fentanyl, known for its notorious potency, has been increasingly mixed with heroin and other drugs in powder form, contributing to the overdose epidemic in the US. Traditionally, fentanyl has been predominantly injected, but there has been a noticeable rise in individuals smoking the drug. Alex Karl, a researcher at RTI International, explained that people often heat the powder on tin foil or in a glass pipe and inhale the vapor, highlighting the evolving consumption patterns.
The study, which analyzed data from death certificates, toxicology reports, and input from coroners and medical examiners, revealed a significant shift in the methods of drug consumption linked to overdose deaths. Between 2020 and 2022, the percentage of overdose deaths with evidence of smoking rose by 74%, while the percentage of deaths with evidence of injection fell by 29%. Additionally, the study noted an increase in deaths with evidence of snorting, though not as pronounced as smoking-related deaths.
Despite the challenges of precisely determining the percentages of deaths resulting from smoking, injecting, snorting, or swallowing drugs, the study found that smoking accounted for 23% of the deaths for which a method was identified, followed by injections at 16%, snorting at 16%, and swallowing at 14.5%.
The data, encompassing input from the District of Columbia and 27 states, is considered representative of national trends. It revealed that smoking was the most common route of drug consumption in the West and Midwest, while being closely tied with injecting in the Northeast and South.
While the study provides valuable insights, it is not without limitations. Alex Karl pointed out the challenges of ascertaining the exact method of drug consumption in cases where no witness is present. Additionally, distinguishing between smoking and snorting can be challenging, as investigators may mistake a straw used for smoking fentanyl as evidence of snorting.
