Authors: Fant RV, Schnoll SH, Buchman A, Henningfield JE.

Meeting: College on Problems of Drug Dependence

Date: June 14-19, 2008

Since 2006, there has been a significant increase in the number of media reports of deaths related to fentanyl. The nature and patterns of fentanyl use and sources of fentanyl are diverse, however.   For example, many reports attributed the deaths to fentanyl manufactured in clandestine laboratories that was distributed as a powder mixed with heroin, or as the active ingredient in fake OxyContin tablets.  Pharmaceutical fentanyl from injectable, transmucosal, and transdermal formulations also continues to be reported as a cause of death among opioid abusers.  In many of these cases, the products was either tampered with or taken at high doses.  Still other deaths appear to result from off-label use of prescription products, such as prescribing the drugs for non-labeled indications, or administration of high doses to individuals who are not opioid tolerant.  This poster will review the patterns of abuse and off-label use of fentanyl, and the prevalence of abuse and death caused by illicit and licit fentanyl sources.  Data sources will include national surveys, the RADARS system, a review of the literature, and internet reports of abuse.