fentanyl Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Fentanyl Poisonings Among U.S. Children Increase Sharply Over Eight Years

The AHA! Team — Mon, 05 May 2025 05:30:14 +0000

Taylor & Francis Group via News-Medical – Incidents of children in the U.S. being poisoned by the synthetic opioid fentanyl “increased and became more severe”, a new study reveals. Launched today as Congress continues to review the HALT Fentanyl Act, the research follows an analysis of nonfatal fentanyl pediatric (aged 0-19) exposures reported to poison centers in 49 U.S. states from 2015 through to 2023. In total, some 3,009 cases were detailed across the eight-year period. In 2023 alone, 44.6% were life-threatening incidents in which there was extreme harm that could have resulted in death if not treated – an increase of these severe cases from 15.9% in 2015. The majority (81.7%) of patients aged 0–12 were exposed unintentionally. Most patients (65.7%) aged 13–19 were noted as having used fentanyl intentionally for nonmedical purposes. Most incidents (1,771) were in youth aged 13–19 (58.9%), compared with 1,238 cases (41.1%) involving children aged 0-12. Males accounted for 58.5% (1,754) of all cases and females 41.5% (1,244). The peer-reviewed findings are published in The American Journal of Drug And Alcohol Abuse, as the U.S. continues to battle a severe opioid crisis “driven by fentanyl use”. Fentanyl with co-use of psychostimulants has come to define the “fourth wave” of the opioid crisis. Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl “flood the illicit market”. And in recent years, seven out of every ten counterfeit pills seized contained a potentially deadly amount of fentanyl. Since 2021, there have been over 70,000 synthetic opioid-related deaths per year; although the latest, provisional data shows such deaths are decreasing. It is understood that friends are a major source of prescription pills among adolescents and social media, too, is commonly used to purchase drugs from strangers. Various drugs not directly purchased from a pharmacy can be adulterated with fentanyl. Increased prevention, treatment, and harm reduction Driven by a “lack of focus on nonfatal overdose and how pediatric populations are being affected,” the expert team found exposures increased over the eight years. Among those aged 0-12 this was by 924.3%. For 13- to 19-year-olds there was a 1,506% increase. Lead author Dr. Joseph Palamar, from the Department of Population Health, at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in New York, says their results demonstrate the need for “increased prevention, treatment, and harm reduction”. “We can’t forget that kids are also at risk during this opioid crisis,” explains Dr. Palamar, who is also Deputy Director of the National Drug Early Warning Network (NDEWS). “Parents need to be aware that teens can purchase pills via apps that are sold as Adderall or Xanax but actually contain fentanyl. “Parents and others, too, need to be careful to not leave fentanyl, whether licit or illicit, out in the open around unsupervised children. “Even second-hand exposure to paraphernalia or baggies can contain small amounts of fentanyl can be lethal to youngsters. “Children may touch or ingest such items out of curiosity, through a lack of a sense of danger, or even imitation of a parent who uses. Even used fentanyl patches can lead to accidental or intentional poisonings among pediatric populations.” Co-author Dr. Joshua Black, Senior Scientist at Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, a Division of Denver Health and Hospital Authority, adds: “Parents and peers need to be able to promptly detect signs and symptoms of opioid overdose-including looking pale, slow or no breathing, coma, sometimes constricted pupils-and know when to seek help. Contact a poison center “We encourage people to contact a poison center if they suspect a poisoning (1-800-222-1222) or call 911 if someone collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened following drug use. “Having naloxone available can reverse the potential overdose from opioids. Bystanders are present in about 40% of illicit opioid-related deaths so it is essential for bystanders to be able to respond.” Fellow co-author Dr. Linda Cottler, Director of NDEWS, from the Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, further recommends for parents and health care providers to “be aware of the importance of receiving training about these drugs and what they do and what they look like, and how to caution teens about the dangers of friends and siblings sharing diverted drugs”. Limitations of the research, includes that the data source used only captures a portion of fentanyl-related poisonings. “There is a lack of systematic collection of data on nonfatal exposures, and a major limitation is that most people who are exposed or overdose do not contact poison centers,” the authors report. Research reported in this press release was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers U01DA051126 and R01DA057289. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Source: Taylor & Francis Group Journal reference: Palamar, J. J., et al. (2025). Nonfatal pediatric fentanyl exposures reported to US poison centers, 2015–2023. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2025.245748. To read the original article click here.

The post Fentanyl Poisonings Among U.S. Children Increase Sharply Over Eight Years appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Low-Dose Ketamine Eases Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms

The AHA! Team — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 08:22:08 +0000

University of Washington School of Medicine via News-Medical – Drug overdose is the leading cause of injury deaths in young adults in the United States, with fentanyl causing over 70,000 deaths annually. Many people who use fentanyl become trapped in their addiction out of fear and a low tolerance for the withdrawal symptoms, which include muscle cramps, nausea, chills, sweats and intense cravings. They can’t stop using fentanyl, and they also have trouble starting either of the two medications, methadone and buprenorphine, that can dramatically reduce their risk of overdose death. Research findings published Aug. 29 in Addiction Science & Clinical Practice may offer hope. A pilot study showed that a small amount of ketamine can reduce or eliminate the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting fentanyl. “The main takeaway is that we have found an easier way for people trapped in the grip of fentanyl addiction to get started in treatment.” Dr. Lucinda Grande, clinical assistant professor of family medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine She was the study’s lead author. “Methadone can be difficult to access due to strict federal regulations, and starting buprenorphine can cause severe withdrawal symptoms before those who start it become stabilized,” added study co-author Dr. Tom Hutch. He is the medical director of the opioid treatment program at We Care Daily Clinics in Auburn, Wash. “Ketamine, at an imperceptibly low dose, helps bridge that gap.” Over 14 months, Grande and colleagues in Auburn and Olympia prescribed ketamine to 37 fentanyl-addicted patients whose fear of withdrawal symptoms had deterred them from trying buprenorphine. Twenty-four patients actually tried the drug, and 16 completed the transition to buprenorphine. Most patients reported a reduction or elimination of withdrawal symptoms after each ketamine dose, the effect of which lasted for hours. Of the last 12 who completed the transition, 92% remained in treatment for at least 30 days. Patients placed a ketamine lozenge or syrup under the tongue. The 16 mg dose is a small fraction of that typically used for anesthesia, the main clinical role of ketamine for 50 years, according to Grande. That dosage also is less than half of the smallest ketamine dose prescribed for depression treatment, an increasingly common use of this medication. Researchers monitored patients daily or almost daily, and refined the treatment strategy based on patient response and prescriber experience. Grande developed the concept after she learned that emergency-medicine physician and coauthor Dr. Andrew Herring of Oakland, California, used a higher, sedating dose of ketamine successfully in his emergency department to resolve a patient’s severe case of withdrawal from fentanyl addiction. Grande is a primary-care and addiction doctor in practice near Olympia who, in the past dozen years, has used low-dose ketamine to treat more than 600 patients for chronic pain and depression. Ketamine has gained prominence in the news since actor Matthew Perry of the sitcom “Friends” overdosed on the drug and drowned. Perry had undergone high-dose ketamine treatment for depression, news reports have suggested. “Our study underscores the enormous potential of this medication for addressing important health problems such as depression, chronic pain and now fentanyl-use disorder,” said Grande. Ketamine’s positive attributes have been overshadowed by Perry’s death, she said. Grande hopes this pilot study’s results will be confirmed by larger studies. “I am excited about these results,” she said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to save lives.” Source: University of Washington School of Medicine Journal reference: Grande, L., et al. (2024) Ketamine-assisted buprenorphine initiation: a pilot case series. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice. doi.org/10.1186/s13722-024-00494-2. To read the original article click here.

The post Low-Dose Ketamine Eases Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Ohio County Sees ‘Catastrophic’ Rise in Opioid Deaths, Coroner Says COVID Is Culprit

AHA Publisher — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 07:00:30 +0000

Andrea Morris via CBN News – The coronavirus pandemic has impacted everyone in some way after descending upon civilization with full force, but the mental health crisis it has created has also been deadly. Franklin County, Ohio has seen a sharp increase in deaths from overdose since the start of COVID-19, prompting the local coroner to inform residents of these grim facts. Dr. Anahi Ortiz said the opioid epidemic affecting Franklin County has been “catastrophic” and it’s directly connected with the coronavirus. “By the first six months of 2020, current data shows that we saw a 73.4 percent increase in overdose fatalities in Franklin County,” Dr. Ortiz pointed out. “I think the anxiety and depression that has come from COVID-19 has exacerbated addiction in a number of ways,” she added. “Thinking about families who already have the anxiety and isolation from COVID-19 and their loved one has just died from addiction, that’s just a tremendous burden to bear.” Dr. Ortiz explained that 85% of the overdose deaths were fentanyl-related. “Then you have folks who perhaps because they became unemployed, etc., may have not been able to buy their usual, and then when they do get some money, they start using again, and they start at the same doses they were taking previously, and that’s when they die,” Ortiz added. She noted that Franklin County has launched training events where locals learn how to use an opioid-reversal medication called Narcan as officials have worked to help residents receive treatment and resources. Ultimately, patients must understand the associated risks when taking opioid-related medications, and that knowledge could help prevent some addiction before it begins. CBN News previously reported on other mental instabilities linked to the coronavirus pandemic, such as the rise in suicide, anxiety, and depression. In August, the CDC released a report revealing that 25.5 percent of Americans age 18 to 24 had seriously considered suicide with the past 30 days. For adults ages 25 to 44, that percentage was 16 percent. Anxiety and depression among younger adults, women, and the poor have been the highest. Data collected by the Census Bureau showed that a third of Americans were exhibiting signs of anxiety, depression, or both. If you’re dealing with mental health issues during the pandemic like suicidal thoughts, addiction, and depression, support groups and helplines are available to assist you. CBNtelephone counselors are available to pray with you at 1-800-700-7000. The Suicide Prevention Hotline can be reached by calling 1-800-273-8255. The National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America can be contacted by clicking here. To read the original article click here. For more articles from CBN News click here.

The post Ohio County Sees ‘Catastrophic’ Rise in Opioid Deaths, Coroner Says COVID Is Culprit appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.