Answer Addiction

Tag: carfentanil

  • Drug-Related Deaths Plunge In Ohio: How They Did It

    Drug-Related Deaths Plunge In Ohio: How They Did It

    The fading presence of carfentanil may have played a major role in the decline of drug-related deaths in some parts of Ohio.

    Overdose deaths in Montgomery County—in Dayton, Ohio—have dramatically decreased in 2018. The county has seen an incredible 54% decline in overdose deaths: there were 548 by November 30 last year; this year there have been 250.

    Dayton is an economically-challenged city, deserted of jobs after manufacturers left in droves. Some speculate that this is part of the reason why Dayton had the highest opioid overdose death rates in the nation in 2017.

    The overdose deaths were so rapid and unrelenting that according to Wral.com, the coroner’s office continuously ran out of space, and ended up renting refrigerated trailers. So what has changed?

    The New York Times did extensive research and reporting on the ground to look into the positive changes in Dayton. Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley believes the largest impact on the rate of overdose deaths came from Gov. John Kasich’s decision to expand Medicaid in 2015. This expansion allowed almost 700,000 low-income adults access to free addiction and mental health treatment.

    In addition to the treatments being free for low-income residents, the expansion of Medicaid pulled in more than a dozen new treatment providers within a year. Some of these providers are residential programs and outpatient clinics that utilize methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone for their patients. These are the three FDA-approved medications to treat opioid addiction.

    “It’s the basis — the basis — for everything we’ve built regarding treatment,” NYT reported Mayor Whaley said at City Hall. “If you’re a state that does not have Medicaid expansion, you can’t build a system for addressing this disease.”

    Dayton’s East Held holds a bimonthly event called Conversations for Change, which lays out the available addiction treatment options. Food is served, and anyone attending can meet treatment providers. The New York Times reported the evening they attended there were more than a dozen tables of providers.

    Significant to a large degree is the fading presence on the streets of Dayton of carfentanil, an analog of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Carfentanil is described by the CDC as 10,000 times more powerful than morphine.

    In recent years carfentanil was very present in Ohio street drugs, for unknown reasons. Mid-2017 carfentanil’s hold began to loosen, possibly because drug traffickers realized they were losing money due to the large upsurge in overdose deaths, said Timothy Plancon, a DEA special agent in charge of Ohio.

    A crucial decision was made by Richard Biehl, Dayton police chief, in 2014. Chief Biehl ordered all officers to carry naloxone, directly contrary to some of his peers in other Ohio cities. Naloxone, or Narcan, is the well-known medication that reverses opioid overdoses if administered in a timely manner.

    Police in Ohio and others elsewhere oppose harm reduction tools like naloxone due to a belief that they simply enable drug use. Still, the evidence is overwhelming that they save lives.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Did You Know Carfentanil Is 5000 Times Stronger Than Heroin?

    Did You Know Carfentanil Is 5000 Times Stronger Than Heroin?

    ARTICLE OVERVIEW: Recently, drug dealers have been cutting heroin with carfentanil to increase profit. However, this medicine is not meant for human use. In fact, carfentanil was originally designed to tranquilize large mammals. This article reviews what you need to know about carfentanil, the dangers associated with it, and tips for finding treatment if you’re struggling with an addiction. At the end, we invite you to ask questions. We try to respond personally and promptly to all real-life questions.

    ESTIMATED READING TIME: Less than 10 minutes.

    Table of Contents:

    What is Carfentanil?

    Carfentanil is very similar to the synthetic opioid analgesic, fentanyl. To date, it’s not only one of the most potent opioids available, it’s the most potent opioid on the streets. In fact, it’s estimated to be 100 times stronger than fentanyl. And fentanyl is already 50 times stronger than heroin!

    Carfentanil is estimated to be 10,000 times stronger than morphine.

    However, carfentanil wasn’t created for people to use. Back in 1986, the chemical was labeled under the brand name “Wildnil”. It was used in tranquilizer darts designed for large mammals such as elephants. Carfentanil was the perfect drug for this task, as the overdose risk is similar to that of its cousin, fentanyl, but still contains much higher opioid activity.

    The risks involved with human consumption of carfentanil are HUGE. Overdose risk is extremely high. All it takes is 1 microgram to provoke psychoactive effects. With that in mind, it’s understandable why drug dealers are cutting it with heroin. Even the smallest amounts of the opioid cause dosing reaction, and in this way, a small supply of the drug can cause heroin profits to soar.

    But how does such a powerful drug affect the brain?

    How Does it Affect the Brain?

    Effects of carfentanil are similar to other opioids. The chemical components of these drugs attach themselves to opioid receptors within the brain which are responsible for:
    • Dopamine
    • Norepinephrine
    • Serotonin

    These receptors are attached to neurotransmitters which then carry chemical signals throughout the rest of the body. This can be highly effective if you’re experiencing severe pain in a particular area, as these neurotransmitters travel to where a pain is most intense and change the way that we perceive pain. Opioids can also case euphoric effect, the feeling of being high.

    The effects of opioids are strong and very addictive. Short-term effects from taking an opioid drug like carfentanil include:

    • Drowsiness
    • Feelings of euphoria
    • Pain relief
    • Sedation

    People develop an addiction to opioids through a chemical change in the brain and body. Over time, the body becomes drug-dependent; we chemically develop a necessity for the drug as a means of feeling normal. Without the drug, the body goes through withdrawal.

    Though this happens over a period of time, it should be noted that it doesn’t take long to develop dependence on opioids: usually, drug dependence can occur with about 3 weeks of regular use. When use persists, a person is unable to stop despite the negative effects the drug has on her/his life. In these cases, an addiction can begin.

    Why Overdose Happens

    Opioids are already dangerous in and of themselves. A synthetic opioid like carfentanil that is thousands of times stronger is even more dangerous. As mentioned above, it only takes 1 microgram of carfentanil to trigger activity within a human brain. However, at 20 micrograms, the dose becomes lethal.

    In fact, it’s been determined that of all the dangers of carfentanil, overdose is most likely. Cincinnati, Ohio experienced these consequences in just one weekend where 30 people overdosed because the drug was added to heroin. In the same area, the following weekend, another 78 overdosed.

    An overdose occurs when you take too much of a drug. It literally overwhelms the body. In particular, opioids affect the regulation of breathing and heart rate. When you take too much of an opioid drug, your respiratory and cardiovascular systems slow until they stop. How can you prevent an overdose?

    There are signs to be aware of when someone is experiencing an overdose:

    • Body goes limp.
    • Breathing or heartbeat slows or stops.
    • Face grows very pale and/or seems clammy upon touch.
    • Lips or fingernails turn a purple or blue color.
    • Seizure.
    • Unable to be awakened or cannot speak.
    • Vomiting or making gurgling sounds.

    Overdose Precautions

    So, what should you do if someone overdoses?

    IT’S VITAL YOU CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!

    A fatal overdose can be prevented under the right medical attention. Calling emergency services needs to be your first priority. However, there are a few steps you can take in order to administer immediate action:

    • If naloxone is available, administrate it. Most likely, the medical professionals who arrive will use it as a means of stopping the overdose. Naloxone quickly blocks the effects of opioids within the body. You can either inject it into the muscle or spray it into the nose.
    • Attempt to keep the person awake by talking to him/her and try to keep them breathing, through CPR if necessary.
    • Make sure the person is placed on their side. This prevents them from choking on bodily fluids.
    • Stay by the person’s side until emergency services arrive. When it comes to an overdose, there’s no telling what can happen within just seconds.

    When it comes to opioid overdoses, most can be prevented through careful steps. When it comes to carfentanil, the story is a little different as it’s so powerful of a drug. Since so little can cause an overdose – and most don’t know whether or not or how much of their drugs are cut with carfentanil – there are GREAT risks involved.

    And these risks go beyond an overdose.

    Carfentanil Health Risks

    Synthetic opioids cause rapid depression within your central nervous system as well as immediate effects including:
    • Drowsiness
    • Increase in blood pressure (particularly, in the brain)
    • Lethargy
    • Muscle spasms
    • Nausea
    • Paranoia
    • Postponed or decreased respiratory function
    • Respiratory arrest
    • Tightening of chest muscles

    However, just as with other opioids, there are also long-term problems which can occur from a prolonged period of use. These include:

    • Abdominal distention and bloating
    • Addiction
    • Brain damage
    • Constipation
    • Development of mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety
    • Development of tolerance
    • Heart complications
    • Liver damage
    • Nausea and vomiting

    Furthermore, since carfentanil can be laced with heroin, there are health risks involved for people who inject as a means to get high including:

    • Gangrene
    • Hepatitis B (HBV)
    • Hepatitis C (HCV)
    • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

    According to medical examiners and coroners, the number of deaths due to carfentanil increased by 94% from the second half of 2016 (421 deaths) to the first half of 2017 (815 deaths).

    Carfentanil Trends and Statistics

    The Center for Disease Control and Prevention analyzes opioid death through death certificates from 32 states and the District of Colombia. Of their analysis of fatal opioid doses between July 2016 and June 2017, it was discovered that – of 11,045 opioid overdose deaths – 1,236 (11.2%) had positive test results for carfentanil.

    Furthermore, the trends of overdose have been found to be area specific.

    • Within 2016 and 2017, Ohio had the largest number of carfentanil laced opioid deaths with September of 2016 being the peak month at 86 deaths.
    • Opioid overdose deaths where Carfentanil was present increased across the world in the second half of 2016, from 54 countries affected to 77.

    These trends are able to give us insight into how Carfentanil has only recently made its way into the illicit market. For the most current drug-related trends, including where synthetic opioids are making an appearance, you can follow the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Emerging Trends and Alerts for all the latest information.

    Basic to Treatment

    If you or someone you love is currently struggling with an opioid addiction, it’s vital to seek help. The risks are too great. You are literally playing with your life. From experience, we promise you:

    You or your loved one has the ability to stop and start a new life!

    Addiction treatment typically works like this:

    1. First, a Medical Assessment

    Medical assessment forms the basis of any treatment plan. When you’re ready to get help, a team of doctors, nurses, and therapists will perform physical and mental exams. You can expect to go through a full medical exam, provide blood and/or urine samples, and go through interviews. This first assessment is crucial to your treatment plan. A good medical assessment should take from 1-2 hours to complete.

    2. Then, Medical Detox

    In order to get past physical dependence, your body must undergo withdrawal. This is the process of removing an opioid from your system and getting back to your natural body chemistry – a state known as “homeostasis”.

    Since opioid withdrawal has some risks such as dehydration and relapse, it’s important you find a detox facility. This will allow you to be in a controlled and safe environment while medical treatment to ease withdrawal symptoms. You can expect to be in detox for about a week, with symptoms peaking 72 hours after your last dose of opium. These symptoms include:

    ◦ Abdominal cramping
    ◦ Agitation
    ◦ Anxiety
    ◦ Diarrhea
    ◦ Dilated pupils
    ◦ Goosebumps
    ◦ Increased tearing
    ◦ Insomnia
    ◦ Muscle aches
    ◦ Nausea
    ◦ Runny nose
    ◦ Sweating
    ◦ Vomiting
    ◦ Yawning

    3. Psychotherapies

    Once an opioid is out of your system, you’re going to experience strong. This is due to the fact that your brain has been dependent on opiates and must readjust back into day-to-day life without it.

    Typically, psychotherapies are designed to teach you how to handle everyday emotions and life stressors. They are highly effective not only in showing you how to live a sober life but also in helping with any mental health conditions which may have arisen due to your opiate use. Furthermore, psychotherapies will reduce cravings. Typical therapies include:

    ◦ Behavioral Therapy
    ◦ Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
    ◦ Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT)
    ◦ Contingency Management
    ◦ Dialectical Behavior Therapy
    ◦ Group Therapy
    ◦ Family Therapy
    ◦ Individual Counseling
    ◦ Integrative Approach
    ◦ Motivational Interviewing
    ◦ Multidimensional Family Therapy
    ◦ Narcotics Anonymous (NAA)

    4. Pharmacotherapy (Medication)

    Medications can help to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. When it comes to opioid withdrawal or longer term maintenance, typical medications prescribed are:

    ◦ Buprenorphine
    ◦ Loxifidine
    ◦ Methadone
    ◦ Naltrexone

    5. Education and Aftercare Services

    Once you begin to learn enough to get back into your day-to-day routine, you’ll have the option learn more. Addiction treatment programs should educate you about how drugs affect your brain … and how to cope without them. You may also be invited to go to meetings to connect with others who are going through the same thing. A support system helps maintain sobriety and stops you from isolating. Other aftercare services include ongoing counseling, sober living houses, and alumni programs.

    Where to Find Help

    When trying to find treatment, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Luckily, addiction treatment is more understood and accepted as a medical condition within the healthcare system. Medicare and Medicaid are being updated to include reiumbursements for addiction treatment. Likewise, state and federal grants aim to increase your access to needed medications and treatment.

    So, where do you go first? The first point of contact can be your general doctor or family physician. S/He can perform a brief assessment and then refer you to treatment centers within your area. From there, you can begin researching different types of treatment programs and their requirements. You can also find help through specialists like:

    Furthermore, keep an eye out for support groups either outside or within your treatment program.
    The people involved in these will help you along the recovery process. If you need to reach out to someone immediately, here are some hotline numbers to contact:

    • Drug Hotline: 877-736-9802
    • National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI): 800-729-6686
    • National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Hope Line: 800-475-HOPE (4673)
    • National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Service 800-622-4357
    • National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 800-273-TALK (8255) or 800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
    • Substance Abuse Helpline (available 24/7): 800-923-4327
    • Relapse Prevention Hotline: 800-RELAPSE (735-2773)

    When you’re ready to look for treatment, we’re always glad to help! Feel free to give us a call. Or, you can leave us a personal question in the comment section below.

    Your Questions

    Still have a question about carfentanil? If you have any questions, we invite you to ask them below. If you’d like to share information about carfentanil or offer some advice about opioid addiction, we’d also love to hear from you.

    We try to reply to each comment in a prompt and personal manner.

    View the original article at

  • Maryland Funeral Directors: We're The "Last Responders" To Opioid Crisis

    Maryland Funeral Directors: We're The "Last Responders" To Opioid Crisis

    Funeral directors in the state claim that safety has become an issue when dealing with opioid overdose victims. 

    Proactive funeral directors in Maryland are stocking up on naloxone, the opioid overdose antidote, as they’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of opioid-related deaths.

    They’re calling themselves the “last responders” to Maryland’s opioid crisis, the Baltimore Sun reports.

    In 2017, the Tri-County Funeral Directors Association launched an awareness campaign in local newspapers to notify communities that “We Don’t Want Your Business” when it comes to opioid abuse.

    “We see a side of this tragic epidemic that many don’t see,” said association president James Schwartz. “The devastation families are facing is heartbreaking.”

    Schwartz tells the Baltimore Sun that other funeral home directors have known not only family members, but funeral home guests “who have come and had either an opioid reaction in the parking lot or other areas during the service time.” 

    “This has caused the folks stress because not only are they grieving this person and now somebody else is having the same tragic result,” Schwartz said.

    The National Funeral Directors Association urges members to protect themselves while handling deceased victims of opioid overdose.

    “Coming into contact with a minuscule dose of fentanyl or carfentanil can be fatal,” the association warns. (This point is oft-repeated, but harm reduction and addiction/recovery advocates say it’s merely a harmful myth.)

    “The opioid crisis presents unique challenges for funeral directors, from working with families whose loved one has died from an overdose to protecting themselves from harm when handling the body of an overdose victim during removal or embalming,” says the funeral directors association.

    In 2017, opioid overdose deaths continued to climb in Maryland, accounting for the majority of drug/alcohol-related deaths—2,009 of 2,282 overdoses were opioid-related, according to the state’s Department of Health.

    “This is an escalating epidemic,” said Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen, whose city saw the worst of the opioid crisis. “But still we don’t even see the peak of this epidemic yet.”

    In response, Maryland schools and libraries are also stocking up on naloxone. “The rule of thumb is: when in doubt, use it,” said funeral director Jeffrey L. Gair.

    The antidote is there “if there’s ever the need while we’re on duty at the funeral home,” Gair said.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Opioid Crisis Has Peaked, Former Cleveland Clinic CEO Suggests

    Opioid Crisis Has Peaked, Former Cleveland Clinic CEO Suggests

    The doctor says that while opioid prescribing is down, synthetic opioids are now driving the opioid epidemic.  

    The former CEO of the Cleveland Clinic said that the opioid epidemic has peaked now that more healthcare providers and laypeople are aware of the dangers of opioid painkillers.

    “I think we’ve peaked,” Dr. Toby Cosgrove said on CNBC’s Squawk Box. “I think we’re starting to see the understanding of the problem, and getting to the point where people are certainly prescribing fewer drugs and people are recognizing how serious this is.”

    However, he said that synthetic opioids are continuing to drive opioid deaths. 

    “The other issue is that drugs are now being laced with fentanyl and carfentanil, which are highly potent,” said Cosgrove, a cardiac surgeon who led the Cleveland Clinic hospital for 13 years before stepping down in 2017.

    “Carfentanil is 10,000 times as potent as morphine. We just had an outbreak of deaths in Ohio from drugs being laced with very potent carfentanil and fentanyl,” Cosgrove noted.

    Cosgrove now works as an executive advisor to Google Cloud Healthcare and Life Sciences team, and is a proponent for healthcare reform. During his CNBC appearance he talked about ways to reduce healthcare costs.

    He noted that while the United States has the highest healthcare costs in the world, the country is about average in the amount spent on healthcare and social programs combined. He said that this shows that investing in social programs can help alleviate the burden of healthcare costs. 

    “Social programs, frankly, are driving down the healthcare costs” in other countries, he said. 

    Although there has been some leveling of opioid overdose rates in certain areas, the national overdose rate climbed in many places between 2016 and 2017. In fact, 45 states saw opioid overdoses increase 30% between July 2016 and September 2017, according to federal data.

    During that time period, the Midwest—including the area served by the Cleveland Clinic—saw opioid overdose rates increase 70%, driven largely by an influx of synthetic opioids. In fact, fentanyl is a factor in nearly half of opioid-related deaths. 

    As Cosgrove suggested, opioid prescribing is down. However, this isn’t necessarily linked to a reduction in overdose deaths. In fact, West Virginia decreased the amount of opioids prescribed by 12% between 2016 and 2017, but still saw opioid-related overdose deaths rise. Because of this, some medical experts warn that the opioid crisis could continue to get worse before improving. 

    “I think we have to realize that we’re on a trajectory that may get a lot worse before it gets better,” said Donald S. Burke, dean of the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Chinese National Pleads Guilty To Importing Opioids

    Chinese National Pleads Guilty To Importing Opioids

    The businessman would receive large shipments of opioids from China and mail them out domestically.

    A Chinese businessman living in Massachusetts has pled guilty to charges of importing opioids. 

    Bin Wang, 42, was arrested in July and charged with importing shipments of carfentanil, fentanyl and other opioids. Wang would receive large shipments of opioids from China and mail them domestically, including to buyers in Ohio, according to a press release by the Ohio U.S. Attorney’s office.

    On Tuesday, Wang pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to importing and distributing opioids. He will be sentenced on November 13.

    Opioids, particularly powerful synthetics, are reportedly made in China and shipped into the U.S. using couriers like FedEx and even the U.S. Postal Service.

    “Increasingly, the opioids that are killing our friends and neighbors are being sent here from China,” said Acting U.S. Attorney David Sierleja. “Shutting down this pipeline will help in our efforts to turn the tide on the opioid epidemic. We will focus on prevention, education, and aggressive law enforcement, both here and around the world.”

    This requires a new approach to intercepting drugs.

    “The importation of opioids and other synthetic drugs from China has played a significant role in America’s current drug use epidemic. Over 60,000 people a year die from drug overdoses in this country, and halting all methods of drug trafficking—including by way of the Internet—is a top priority of the DEA,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon. “This investigation makes clear that geographic and technological hurdles will not stop DEA and our partners from bringing to justice those responsible for the illegal distribution of drugs in the U.S.”

    Despite that tough stance, it is reportedly very difficult to catch opioids coming into the country from China. In part, that is because the shipments are small, and the volume of mail coming into the country makes it difficult to pinpoint suspicious packages. In addition, prosecuting Chinese manufacturers can be difficult.

    Officials first started investigating the drugs that led to Wang in 2016, after a series of fatal overdoses in Ohio. They determined that the drugs were bought online through a Chinese website, and that a Chinese man known as “Gordon Jin” was shipping the drugs to Wang in Massachusetts, who then distributed them domestically.

    Undercover agents purchase opioids from Jin, and were able to track the shipments to Wang, who was operating companies from a warehouse in Woburn, Massachusetts.

    “This investigation is a great example of a collaborative effort of federal agencies and a local drug task force working together to identify and track down people and organizations that are responsible for the ever-increasing shipments of very powerful synthetic opiates into Ohio,” said Don Hall, director of the MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Maryland Hit With Record Number Of Fentanyl Deaths

    Maryland Hit With Record Number Of Fentanyl Deaths

    “It’s terrifying that we’re at a point where the numbers escalate every year. We don’t even know where the peak is,” said Baltimore’s health commissioner.

    Maryland hit a sobering new milestone last year: The state saw more fentanyl deaths than ever before. And this year, it turns out, is already on track to set another disquieting record. 

    Of the state’s more than 2,200 intoxication deaths last year, roughly 90% were opioid-related and more than 1,500 involved fentanyl, according to health department data. 

    “It’s terrifying that we’re at a point where the numbers escalate every year. We don’t even know where the peak is,” Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore’s health commissioner, told the Associated Press. 

    But that’s not true across the board. While fentanyl fatalities soared from 1,119 in 2016 to 1,594 last year in a more than 40% jump, heroin deaths are down 11% in the same period.

    Prescription opioid fatalities are down a bit too, though cocaine deaths have jumped up some 49%. Most of that is likely due to the increasing appearance of fentanyl mixed in with coke, state officials said, according to the Washington Post.

    Overall, the “large majority” of the fentanyl deaths occurred in Baltimore, the notoriously drug-riddled Charm City. There, 573 people died of fentanyl overdoses. Four years earlier, the city saw just 12 such fatalities. “That’s a 5,000% increase in four years,” Wen said. 

    The new data comes just over a year after Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in light of the ongoing opioid epidemic.

    “We need to treat this crisis the exact same way we treat any other state emergency,” he said in a press conference at the time, while announcing an influx of roughly $50 million in funding to combat the problem. “As this crisis evolves, so must our response to it.”

    The crisis in Maryland mirrors struggles playing out in states across the country as overdose deaths are driven up by the prevalence of dangerously strong synthetic opioids like fentanyl and the even stronger carfentanil.

    So far, the problem doesn’t seem poised to improve in 2018. The first three months of the year notched up 653 accidental drug deaths in the state—and 500 of them involved fentanyl, state data showed.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Searching For The Next Naloxone

    Searching For The Next Naloxone

    Experts are concerned that naloxone may not be strong enough for synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil.

    Naloxone is—at times—a seemingly miraculous drug. Within minutes of naloxone being administered, someone who was unresponsive because of an opioid overdose can start breathing on their own and regain consciousness.

    However, despite its strengths, there are issues with the drug that have left healthcare professionals and policy makers pushing for alternatives. 

    One of the biggest issues with naloxone today is that it is reportedly not as effective at reversing overdoses from powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl and carfentanil.

    In these cases, a person might need multiple doses of the opioid reversal drug in order to see a benefit. This isn’t just expensive, but can also cost someone their life if there aren’t enough doses immediately available. 

    Another issue is that opioids remain active in the body for longer than naloxone does. Because of this, someone can be revived using the opioid reversal drug, but later slip back into an overdose when the effects of naloxone have worn off. 

    Both of these concerns have led to the search for alternatives to naloxone. 

    “The strategies we’ve done in the past for reversing overdoses may not be sufficient,” Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), recently said in a speech at the 2018 National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit, according to STAT News. “We need to develop alternative solutions to reversing overdoses.”

    Dr. Jay Kuchera, a Florida-based addiction medicine specialist for Resolute Pain Solutions, said that “naloxone is being outgunned” by synthetic opioids that have largely replaced heroin in many areas of the country. 

    “Naloxone seemed to be great for the older opioids,” Kuchera said. “But now that we’re encountering these nonmedical, ungodly [opioids] like carfentanil… we need to get with the times.”

    In 2016, one report found that the market for opioid reversal drugs was valued at nearly $1 billion, so there are good economic incentives for companies to find alternatives to naloxone.

    Opiant Pharmaceuticals, which developed Narcan (the nasal spray version of naloxone), has had early success with a drug that works the same way as naloxone but lasts longer, so that the victim would be less likely to slip into another overdose after administration. 

    “Compounds like fentanyl, carfentanil, and other synthetic opioids act for longer periods of time,” said Dr. Roger Crystal, CEO of Opiant. “The concern is that naloxone’s half-life doesn’t provide sufficient cover to prevailing amounts of fentanyl in the blood.”

    Because many overdose deaths occur when a person stops breathing, scientists are also examining whether they can use drugs to keep a person breathing even while not reversing the overdose itself. For this, researchers are looking at ampakines, a class of drugs that can counteract respiratory depression. 

    Some people argue that funds would be better used to address the causes of addiction or to further study naloxone to see if it is indeed less effective against synthetic opioids, but Volkow said that having new and potentially better options for saving people from overdose is critical.  

    “There are so many people dying that we have to recognize the urgency,” Volkow said. “We obviously value basic science, but at the same time we have to recognize because of the current situation, the development of medication the can help address the crisis has become our top priority.”

    View the original article at thefix.com