Over the past 10 years, the United States has struggled with increasing numbers of overdose deaths. These overdose deaths are caused by a class of drugs called opioids. Opioids are pain killers that are designed after a substance called opium. Some opioids are medications that you might get prescribed after a surgery, like Percocet. Other opioids are illegal drugs, like heroin. The problem with opioids is that they can be very dangerous and highly addictive when used improperly. The increase in deaths from opioid overdoses was steady at first. But around 2013 an opioid drug called fentanyl found its way into the illegal drug market. Fentanyl caused overdose deaths in the US to skyrocket, like putting gasoline on a fire (1). This week’s study looks at the recent trends in the fentanyl crisis.

This recent study was published in the peer reviewed journal, Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2). The goal of the study was to get an idea of the amount of fentanyl circulating on the streets. Getting an understanding of how much fentanyl has been going around can help us warn the public and prepare for potential waves of overdoses. To do this, the researchers looked at the number of seizures (aka drug busts) of fentanyl by law enforcement in recent years. The researchers recorded seizures that captured both powders and pills that contained fentanyl. These included powders and pills that were completely made up of fentanyl or that were laced with fentanyl (such as Xanax laced with fentanyl).

The study found that between 2018 and the end of 2021 the number of seizures of fentanyl and drugs laced with fentanyl rose dramatically. The number of seizures for fentanyl-containing powder nearly quadrupled from 2018 to 2021. Seizures of pills containing fentanyl increased almost 10-fold. All of this suggests that there is more fentanyl and drugs laced with fentanyl moving around in the illegal drug market.

An especially concerning finding was that the proportion of seizures that had pills also increased dramatically. By the end of 2021, almost 1 in every 3 fentanyl seizures involved pills. This means that there are more counterfeit and laced pills going around than ever before. The researchers concluded that we all need to be aware of the increasing dangers of getting pills that are not from your doctor. Do not take any pills that were bought off the street! Pills that are from the street or an illegal drug dealer are more likely to be laced with fentanyl than ever before. Because fentanyl is up to 20 times as potent as heroin, consuming a counterfeit pill that is laced with fentanyl can be deadly (3).

If you are struggling with addiction or other problems with any type of drugs or alcohol, know that there is help. You can contact 1-800-662-4357 or follow the link to SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA to get help. if you or someone you know is having thoughts of hurting themselves or committing suicide, call 988 to get help.

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Drug overdose death rates. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved February 8, 2023, from https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
2. Palamar, J. J., Ciccarone, D., Rutherford, C., Keyes, K. M., Carr, T. H., & Cottler, L. B. (2022). Trends in seizures of powders and pills containing illicit fentanyl in the United States, 2018 through 2021. Drug and alcohol dependence, 234, 109398.
3. Kiyatkin, E. A. (2019). Respiratory depression and brain hypoxia induced by opioid drugs: Morphine, oxycodone, heroin, and fentanyl. Neuropharmacology, 151, 219-226.