TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - Characteristics of fatal 'novel' synthetic opioid toxicity in Australia
JO  - Drug and alcohol dependence
A1  - Darke, Shane
A1  - Peacock, Amy
A1  - Duflou, Johan
A1  - Farrell, Michael
A1  - Lappin, Julia
SP  - e109292
EP  - e109292
VL  - 232
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: Aims: To determine 1. The characteristics of all recorded cases of fatal drug poisoning involving novel synthetic opioids (NSOs) in Australia; 2. The toxicology of cases; and 3. The major autopsy findings. <br><br>METHODS: Review of all fatal poisonings related to NSOs in Australia 2000-2021 identified in the National Coronial Information System. <br><br>RESULTS: Thirty-one cases were identified, 96.8% due to unintentional drug toxicity. The mean age was 31.9 years and 87.1% were male. Only six were aged over forty. A history of substance use problems was documented in 80.6% and 58.1% had a history of injecting drug use. In 32.3% the final route of administration of a NSO was by non-injecting routes of administration. Ten NSOs were identified. Fentanyl analogues were present in 67.2%, most commonly furanylfenatyl (19.4%). Other NSO types were present in 39.7%, most commonly U-47700 (35.5%). Substances other than NSOs were present in 90.3%, most commonly benzodiazepines (67.7%) and other opioids (51.6%). A CNS depressant in addition to NSOs was present in 90.3%, and a new psychoactive substance other than a NSO in 25.8%. Pulmonary oedema was diagnosed in 82.6%, aspiration of vomitus in 30.4%, and acute bronchopneumonia in 17.4%. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Ten NSOs were identified. Case characteristics suggest a younger cohort whose profile is more typical of use of other NPS than of the established opioids. A large proportion used NSOs by non-injecting routes of administration.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0376-8716
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109292
ID  - ref1
ER  -