A research study by UCSF scientists has found that the increase in cigarette smoking fentanyl, now more common than injecting, brings increased overdose threats due to residue left in cigarette smoking devices. Credit: SciTechDaily.comAs smoking cigarettes fentanyl ends up being more typical than injection, users face installing threats from the residue in smoking equipment.Now that cigarette smoking has actually overtaken injecting as the most typical approach for consuming fentanyl, scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have actually discovered an increased risk of deadly overdose from the residue that builds up in smoking cigarettes equipment.The scientists discovered that people both shared fentanyl resin and consumed it inadvertently, potentially increasing overdose dangers.” The paper, published today (May 22, 2024) in the clinical journal PLOS ONE, is the first to check out fentanyl resin as an essential contributor to overdose.Smoking fentanyl is rising locally and nationallySan Francisco reached an all-time of 806 deaths in 2023, with 653 from fentanyl. Nationwide, the number of fentanyl deaths decreased decently in 2023, dropping from 76,226 to 74,702; but they stay high, and deadly overdoses from psychostimulants, consisting of methamphetamine and cocaine, are on the rise.In recent years, matching nationwide patterns, less people in San Francisco have actually been injecting fentanyl and more have actually been smoking it.
A research study by UCSF researchers has actually found that the boost in smoking cigarettes fentanyl, now more common than injecting, carries heightened overdose risks due to residue left in cigarette smoking devices. Credit: SciTechDaily.comAs smoking cigarettes fentanyl becomes more typical than injection, users deal with mounting threats from the residue in cigarette smoking equipment.Now that cigarette smoking has surpassed injecting as the most typical method for consuming fentanyl, scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have actually discovered an increased threat of deadly overdose from the residue that builds up in cigarette smoking equipment.The scientists found that people both shared fentanyl resin and consumed it unintentionally, possibly increasing overdose risks. This is especially concerning for people who utilize the equipment to smoke other drugs, like methamphetamine, and have not established tolerance to opioids like fentanyl.” The threat of overdose when sharing smoking cigarettes gadgets with fentanyl resin could be seen as comparable to the threat of shared injection stuff and HIV transmission,” stated Daniel Ciccarone, MD, MPH, Justine Miner Professor of Addiction Medicine at UC San Francisco in the Department of Family & & Community Medicine, who is the first author of the paper. “Harm culturally attuned and reduction-based education campaigns require to be rapidly advanced to address this brand-new risk.” The paper, published today (May 22, 2024) in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, is the very first to explore fentanyl resin as a key factor to overdose.Smoking fentanyl is rising in your area and nationallySan Francisco reached an all-time of 806 deaths in 2023, with 653 from fentanyl. Nationwide, the number of fentanyl deaths declined decently in 2023, dropping from 76,226 to 74,702; however they stay high, and deadly overdoses from psychostimulants, including methamphetamine and drug, are on the rise.In current years, mirroring national trends, fewer people in San Francisco have actually been injecting fentanyl and more have actually been smoking it. The habits and beliefs surrounding this advancement have not been well understood to date.To conduct the research study, the researchers observed people in their own environment in 2022, conducting face-to-face interviews with 34 participants who were recruited from syringe service programs. They asked about the development of the individuals substance use, in addition to their modes of usage, experiences with overdose, and the changes they had observed in the local drug supply. The interviews were supplemented with day-to-day field notes, video-recorded smoking series, and photography of drugs and equipment.The scientists observed that fentanyl was extremely cheap, as low as $10 a gram; and the majority of people used foil to smoke it, although glass bubbles, bongs, and dabbing gadgets also were popular. The quality of the fentanyl differed, and people had no obvious approach to determine it. Individuals could assess strength upon inhalation, nevertheless, and they had developed strategies to control their dosage. A number of individuals reported frequent use, up to one or more grams a day.Shared equipment positions significant dangersIt was both the difficulty of injecting and the worry of overdose that inspired people to start smoking cigarettes fentanyl instead. Smoking cigarettes was also more social, and individuals shared devices, drugs, and information. The scientists were surprised to find that this triggered participants to assess the changing threat environment for people with varying opioid tolerances and to develop strategies to secure others.Early during fieldwork, the scientists observed an interaction in which a random person tried to obtain a glass pipe from a participant, who emphatically declined. The individual described that the pipe had actually been used for fentanyl and did not wish to share it with someone who only utilized methamphetamine. Smoked fentanyl and methamphetamine residues look comparable, and the devices used typically overlaps.” The overdose threat emerges when there is a potential inequality in between the effectiveness of the residual drug and the recipients tolerance,” Ciccarone explained.While some individuals took preventative measures to avoid others from utilizing their smoking cigarettes equipment and overdosing on the residues, the shared smoking cigarettes culture still positions increased dangers, especially offered high usage rates.” This highlights the requirement for information that can notify damage reduction education that is understanding of and responsive to the understandings of individuals who use opioids,” Ciccarone said. “Pacing, increasing awareness of dosages consumed, and examining tolerance of residue recipients are potentially practical interventions deserving further exploration.” Reference: “Innovation and adaptation: The rise of a fentanyl smoking cigarettes culture in San Francisco” 22 May 2024, PLOS ONE.DOI: 10.1371/ journal.pone.0303403.
