The latest report by Millennium Health has shed light on the alarming trend of illicit fentanyl use in conjunction with methamphetamine. The study, which analyzed urine samples from over 4.1 million patients between 2013 and 2023, revealed that 60% of those who tested positive for fentanyl also tested positive for methamphetamine, while 22% had cocaine in their samples.
This data indicates a significant shift in the nation’s overdose epidemic, with a decrease in heroin and prescription opioid abuse and a concerning increase in the use of illicit fentanyl alongside other substances. Dr. Nora Volkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse expressed worry over the high percentage of fentanyl samples testing positive for other drugs.
The report also highlighted the increasing involvement of stimulants, particularly methamphetamine, in fentanyl overdose deaths. Methamphetamine use is becoming more potent, pure, and cheaper, posing a significant concern as there are currently no FDA-approved medications for stimulant overdoses.
Regional trends in drug use were also noted, with methamphetamine more prevalent in the western U.S. and cocaine more prevalent in the Eastern U.S. The report revealed a notable increase in the presence of cocaine in fentanyl-positive specimens from 2013 to 2023, as well as a decrease in heroin use and a record low presence of prescription opioids in fentanyl-positive samples.
The evolving addiction crisis involving polysubstance abuse presents a significant challenge in addressing the nation’s overdose deaths, which exceeded 100,000 in 2021 and continued to rise in 2022. The report serves as a call to action for policymakers and healthcare professionals to tackle this growing public health crisis.
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