@article{ref1,
title="The fentanyl phase of the opioid epidemic in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States",
journal="Journal of forensic sciences",
year="2021",
author="Singer, Mendel E. and Kaspar, Claire and Gilson, Thomas P. and Deo, Vaishali S.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="Since late 2014, fentanyl has become the major driver of opioid mortality in the United States. However, a descriptive analysis of fentanyl victims is limited. We  studied the 2016 fentanyl and heroin overdose deaths and compared them to previously  studied heroin-associated fatalities from 2012 over a wide range of demographic and  investigative variables, including overdose scene findings, toxicology results, and  prescription drug history. We observed a significant increase in fentanyl-related  deaths (n = 421, 2016) versus heroin deaths (n = 160, 2012) but the baseline  demographics between both cohorts remained similar. Victims were predominantly of  ages 35-64 years (60%-64%), White (83%-85%), and male (73%-76%). 2016 fentanyl  decedents were more likely to have naloxone administered upon overdose, and the  majority still had a positive prescription history for a controlled substance. Toxicology data showed a decrease in mean morphine and 6-monoacetylmorphine  concentrations when cointoxication with fentanyl occurred. Our study emphasizes the  medical examiner's role as a public health data source and bridge between different  stakeholders combating the opioid epidemic.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-1198",
doi="10.1111/1556-4029.14665",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14665"
}