UCLA Research Reveals Alarming Increase in Fentanyl and Stimulant Overdose Deaths in the US
A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), has uncovered a concerning “fourth wave” in the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Addiction, highlights a significant increase in overdose deaths involving fentanyl and stimulants since 2010.
According to the research, the proportion of overdose deaths in the US involving both fentanyl and stimulants has skyrocketed more than 50-fold over the past decade. In 2010, only 0.6% of overdose deaths (235 deaths) involved these substances, compared to a staggering 32.3% (34,429 deaths) in 2021.
The prevalence of stimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, in fentanyl-involved overdoses has become a disturbing trend in every US state. This surge in fatalities involving fentanyl and stimulants constitutes the fourth wave in the country’s long-standing opioid crisis, which shows no signs of abating.
Lead author Joseph Friedman, an addiction researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, expressed his concerns about the rise in polysubstance overdoses, where people mix fentanyl with other drugs. He highlighted the unique challenges this presents for healthcare providers, as they lack significant experience in treating opioids and stimulants used together or opioids combined with other substances.
The study’s findings also shed light on demographic and geographical trends in fentanyl/stimulant overdose deaths. Racial and ethnic minority communities, including Black and African American people and Native American people, are disproportionately affected by these fatalities. For example, in 2021, the prevalence of stimulant involvement in fentanyl overdose deaths was significantly higher among specific demographic groups than the general population.
Moreover, there are regional variations in the drug combinations found in fentanyl-related overdoses. In the northeast US, fentanyl tends to be combined with cocaine, while in the southern and western regions, it is most frequently mixed with methamphetamine. The researchers suggested that this pattern may be due to the availability and preference for low-cost, high-purity methamphetamine in these areas.
The study highlights the urgency for policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities to address this increasing public health crisis. Improved education, prevention efforts, access to treatment, and resources that cater to the specific needs of racial and ethnic minority communities are crucial steps in combating this devastating fourth wave of the opioid crisis.
The research was supported by the UCLA Medical Scientist Training Program and the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health. The authors emphasized that the responsibility for the content of the study lies solely with them and does not necessarily reflect the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
As the death toll continues to rise, it is evident that immediate action is necessary to curb the devastating impact of fentanyl and stimulant overdoses in the United States.