May 7 2024Brown University A new analysis revealed the frequency of potentially lethal substances, such as fentanyl and xylazine, in counterfeit pills that had been circulating in Rhode Island's illicit drug supply.
"The level of detail found in our analysis can help inform treatment conversations and improve patient care," said Wightman, a physician who cares for patients seeking help for opioid use disorder.Wightman said that most knowledge of counterfeit pills comes from community drug-checking initiatives or broad government reports with limited data. Comprehensive lab testing is an important complement to identify the range of substances found in counterfeit pills, she said.
In 2022, the active substance xylazine, a powerful sedative that has been implicated in the national overdose crisis, was detected in almost 40% of counterfeit oxycodone pills, always alongside fentanyl, the study found. According to the analysis, counterfeit pills often contained methamphetamine or novel benzodiazepines, such as bromazolam, which, like xylazine, are not approved for human use.
"This retrospective is a nice proof of concept on how impactful the findings can be," said study author Glen Gallagher, the director of the state health laboratories. "We are taking steps to make the data more readily available so that community partners can be aware of what's on the street in real time and can help communicate that information to people who use drugs as well as those who treat them, to hopefully mitigate risks.
Epidemiology Fentanyl Frequency Medicine Overdose Oxycodone Research
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