TY - JOUR PY - 2017// TI - Characteristics of fentanyl overdose - Massachusetts, 2014-2016 JO - MMWR: Morbidity and mortality weekly report A1 - Somerville, Nicholas J. A1 - O'Donnell, Julie A1 - Gladden, R. Matthew A1 - Zibbell, Jon E. A1 - Green, Traci C. A1 - Younkin, Morgan A1 - Ruiz, Sarah A1 - Babakhanlou-Chase, Hermik A1 - Chan, Miranda A1 - Callis, Barry P. A1 - Kuramoto-Crawford, Janet A1 - Nields, Henry M. A1 - Walley, Alexander Y. SP - 382 EP - 386 VL - 66 IS - 14 N2 - Opioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts increased 150% from 2012 to 2015 (1). The proportion of opioid overdose deaths in the state involving fentanyl, a synthetic, short-acting opioid with 50-100 times the potency of morphine, increased from 32% during 2013-2014 to 74% in the first half of 2016 (1-3). In April 2015, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and CDC reported an increase in law enforcement fentanyl seizures in Massachusetts, much of which was believed to be illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) (4). To guide overdose prevention and response activities, in April 2016, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner collaborated with CDC to investigate the characteristics of fentanyl overdose in three Massachusetts counties with high opioid overdose death rates. In these counties, medical examiner charts of opioid overdose decedents who died during October 1, 2014-March 31, 2015 were reviewed, and during April 2016, interviews were conducted with persons who used illicit opioids and witnessed or experienced an opioid overdose. Approximately two thirds of opioid overdose decedents tested positive for fentanyl on postmortem toxicology. Evidence for rapid progression of fentanyl overdose was common among both fatal and nonfatal overdoses. A majority of interview respondents reported successfully using multiple doses of naloxone, the antidote to opioid overdose, to reverse suspected fentanyl overdoses. Expanding and enhancing existing opioid overdose education and prevention programs to include fentanyl-specific messaging and practices could help public health authorities mitigate adverse effects associated with overdoses, especially in communities affected by IMF.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0149-2195 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6614a2 ID - ref1 ER -