The Ohio Department of Health sent an advisory to county health departments and health professionals today warning about overdose deaths caused by fentanyl-laced cocaine, meth and other stimulants.
Harm Reduction Ohio, which has been asking the Ohio Department of Health to issue an alert about fentanyl-laced cocaine, praised the department for taking this step. “We greatly appreciate the advisory and its thoroughness. It’s well done and hits all the right points,” said Harm Reduction Ohio President Dennis Cauchon.
The state issued the advisory in an e-mail to all 88 Ohio county health departments and an unspecified number of health professionals. In addition to the email, Harm Reduction Ohio requested the health department also post the advisory on its web site, so it could be shared and accessible to the public.
“Cocaine and meth users need to know how potentially dangerous this trend is. We want to prevent overdoses, not just revive people when the overdoses occur,” Cauchon said.
The Ohio Department of Health first reported the trend of fatal fentanyl-related cocaine overdoses in its August report on 2016 drug overdoses. Harm Reduction Ohio has documented how the stunning rise in cocaine-fentanyl deaths has accelerated and how these now outnumber heroin-fentanyl combinations in Ohio in 2017.
The health advisory email is shown here:
ODH Issues Advisory on Continuing Increase in Fentanyl-Related Overdose Deaths Involving Non-Opioids
The Ohio Department of Health issued the following advisory today concerning the continuing increase of fentanyl-related overdose deaths involving non-opioids such as cocaine and methamphetamines/other psychostimulants, urging first responders to administer naloxone for drug overdoses even when non-opioids are indicated.
- Preliminary 2017 data shows a continuing increase in fentanyl-related drug overdose deaths, including an increase in overdose deaths involving both cocaine and fentanyl, as well as methamphetamines/other psychostimulants and fentanyl.
- Preliminary 2017 data indicates that 71 percent of all unintentional drug overdose deaths involved fentanyl or a fentanyl analogue. By comparison, 58 percent of overdose deaths did so in 2016, 37.9 percent in 2015, 19.9 percent in 2014, and 4 percent in 2013.
- When the Ohio Department of Health released the 2016 Ohio Drug Overdose Report in August 2017, the report noted an increase in cocaine-related overdose deaths, 55.8 percent of which also involved fentanyl or an analogue.
- Preliminary 2017 data indicates that in 22 percent (850) of all overdose deaths, cocaine and fentanyl or its analogues were both mentioned on the death certificate, compared to 15 percent (619) in 2016 and 8 percent (239) in 2015. Additionally, overdose deaths in which both fentanyl and methamphetamines/other psychostimulants were mentioned on the death certificate increased 142 percent from 2016 (117) to 2017 (283).
- People who use illicit drugs and who are not familiar with the risks, such as those who use cocaine occasionally, are at exceptionally high risk of an overdose when using cocaine mixed with fentanyl.
- Fentanyl is a schedule II synthetic painkiller approved for treating severe pain, typically advanced cancer pain. It is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin. However, most cases of fentanyl-related harm, overdose, and death in the U.S. are linked to illegally manufactured fentanyl. Fentanyl is often mixed with heroin and/or cocaine as a combination product—with or without the user’s knowledge—to increase its euphoric effects.
Recommendations
Because of the increase in overdose deaths involving cocaine and fentanyl, and methamphetamines and fentanyl, ODH is making several recommendations to first-responders, healthcare providers, substance abuse treatment professionals, community-based Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) programs, and others who interact with people who use illicit drugs.
- Administer Naloxone in Drug Overdoses When Non-Opioids are Suspected/Indicated
Even though naloxone is not effective in treating drug overdoses caused solely by stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamines, the administration of naloxone may be helpful in drug overdoses caused by a combination of stimulants and opioids like fentanyl and its analogues.
- Help Educate Individuals About Dangers of Illicit Drugs Potentially Mixed With Fentanyl
Educate patients/clients who use illicit substances about the dangers of illicit drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines being mixed with fentanyl, and the increased risk of overdose and death resulting from that mixture. Key points to emphasize include:
- Fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs without the user’s knowledge.
- Fentanyl is more likely to be fatal due to its high potency and how long it stays in the body.
- Mixing of drugs (including alcohol) should be avoided, because it increases the risk of overdose.
- Drugs should not be taken by users while alone, so that someone else can help or get help, in case of an overdose.
- Drug users, their families and friends should all have been trained on:
- the signs and symptoms of a drug overdose;
- where to get naloxone and how to administer it;
- how to do rescue breathing; and
- the importance of calling 911 immediately even when naloxone is administered.
- Overdose sufferers should NOT leave the ambulance or hospital against medical advice after naloxone has been administered to reverse an overdose. The naloxone may wear off before the opioids wear off – and the overdose could recur.
- Help Individuals Get Access to Naloxone
Encourage patients/clients who use illicit drugs, as well as their family and friends, to carry naloxone. Refer them to a local Project DAWN community-based naloxone education and distribution program, or refer them to a local pharmacy that dispenses naloxone. More information about where to obtain naloxone is available at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprograms/naloxone/stopoverdoses.aspx.
- Referral to Substance Abuse Treatment
Refer patients/clients who use illicit drugs to treatment. You can direct them to treatment and recovery resources on the “Take Charge Ohio” website (http://www.takechargeohio.org/Toolkits/Patients).
Clinical Information About Fentanyl
Fentanyl is an opioid analgesic. The biological effects of fentanyl are indistinguishable from those of heroin. Treatment is the same as for other opioid overdoses. However, larger than usual doses of naloxone (2-10mg) and/or multiple administrations of naloxone may be required for reversal of the opioid effects. Fentanyl is not detected by standard urine opioid immunoassays; therefore, opioid exposure should not be ruled out based on toxicology screen results. Consult your laboratory for preferred testing methods. Symptoms of overdose are characteristic of central nervous system depression: lethargy, respiratory depression, pinpoint pupils, change in consciousness, seizure and/or coma.