TY - JOUR
T1 - Fentanyl's Role in Opioid Overdose Deaths
AU - Aschenbrenner, Diane S.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - U.S. deaths from opioid overdose are on the rise. Heroin and other illegal opioids are being adulterated with the potent opioid fentanyl, significantly increasing the risk of sudden, lethal overdose. Highly potent fentanyl analogs, such as the large-animal sedative carfentanil, are also being mixed with heroin. Naloxone is an antidote to opioid overdose. Despite new preparations of naloxone designed for use by nonmedical bystanders, the drug is not being sufficiently prescribed or used. The increasing cost of naloxone products may be contributing to poor usage.
AB - U.S. deaths from opioid overdose are on the rise. Heroin and other illegal opioids are being adulterated with the potent opioid fentanyl, significantly increasing the risk of sudden, lethal overdose. Highly potent fentanyl analogs, such as the large-animal sedative carfentanil, are also being mixed with heroin. Naloxone is an antidote to opioid overdose. Despite new preparations of naloxone designed for use by nonmedical bystanders, the drug is not being sufficiently prescribed or used. The increasing cost of naloxone products may be contributing to poor usage.
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U2 - 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000525869.21182.72
DO - 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000525869.21182.72
M3 - Article
C2 - 28957923
AN - SCOPUS:85030833781
SN - 0002-936X
VL - 117
SP - 21
EP - 23
JO - American Journal of Nursing
JF - American Journal of Nursing
IS - 10
ER -