Citation

Wallage HR, Elliot M, Rajotte JW. J. Anal. Toxicol. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Preston Publications)

DOI

10.1093/jat/bkac039

PMID

35715987

Abstract

Carfentanil is a potent opioid with no medical use in humans; it presents a serious threat to public health and road safety due to its presence in the illicit drug supply, potency of the drug and instances of use prior to the operation of a motor vehicle. The identification and quantitation of carfentanil using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was performed in blood samples obtained through impaired driving-related investigations from 2017 to 2019. In a series of 66 cases submitted to the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Ontario, Canada, blood concentrations of carfentanil ranged from less than 0.04 to 2.1 ng/mL in the population studied. Driving behaviors frequently came to the attention of concerned citizens, decreased levels of consciousness were commonly reported and a variety of medical interventions were required, in some cases, to preserve life due to apparent opioid toxicity.

Keywords: Drug impaired driving

Language: en

Keywords

Carfentanil; blood concentration; impaired driving; opioid toxicity; recreational use