Browsing by Subject "fentanyl"

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    Electrochemical Characterization of Fentanyl for Forensic Analysis
    (2021-08) Sellnau, Natalie; Deiss, Frederique; Goodpaster, John; Manicke, Nicholas
    The use and abuse of fentanyl has risen drastically over the last several decades. The abuse of this substance has created a hazardous situation for law enforcement and first responders because they could arrive at locations and not necessarily know that they will encounter fentanyl or a fentanyl analog. Fentanyl analogs are substances that have a similar structure to fentanyl, and while the analogs may have additional or altered groups on the molecule, the backbone structure remains similar. This work focus on the electrochemical characterization of fentanyl as a stepping stone for the detection of both fentanyl and later fentanyl analogs by electrochemistry. The metabolic reaction of fentanyl is an N-dealkylation to norfentanyl, occurring in the liver, and can be mimicked by electrochemistry through the irreversible oxidation of fentanyl. This electrochemical reaction is hypothesized to generate electroactive metabolites in solution. The combination of the visualization of both the irreversible oxidation with the development of the additional metabolic electrochemical peaks would constitute a unique electrochemical signature for fentanyl and fentanyl analogs towards a universal rapid screening assay. The electrochemical behavior of fentanyl was characterized in depth using multiple electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The optimization of the supporting electrolyte, the potential range, and methods to decrease the background current were explored with CV. To work towards a more portable system, screen printed electrodes were used. The observation of the metabolic peaks remained challenging, and different methods were attempted to achieve it. The quantification of fentanyl was successfully demonstrated using the different electrochemical systems proposed in this work. The electrochemical characterization of fentanyl and the optimization of multiple experimental parameters were the first step in developing a universal, rapid, electrochemical sensing method for the detection of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs.
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    Fentanyl related overdose in Indianapolis: Estimating trends using multilevel Bayesian models
    (Addictive Behaviors, 2018-03-20) Phalen, Peter; Ray, Bradley; Watson, Dennis P.; Huynh, Phillip; Green, Marion S.
    Introduction: The opioid epidemic has been largely attributed to changes in prescribing practices over the past 20 years. Although current overdose trends appear driven by the opioid fentanyl, heroin has remained the focus of overdose fatality assessments. We obtained full toxicology screens on lethal overdose cases in a major US city, allowing more accurate assessment of the time-course of fentanyl-related deaths. Methods: We used coroner data from Marion County, Indiana comprising 1583 overdose deaths recorded between January 1, 2010 and April 30, 2017. Bayesian multilevel models were fitted to predict likelihood of lethal fentanyl-related overdose using information about the victim's age, race, sex, zip code, and date of death. Results: Three hundred and seventy-seven (23.8%) overdose deaths contained fentanyl across the seven-year period. Rates rose exponentially over time, beginning well below 15% from 2010 through 2013 before rising to approximately 50% by 2017. At the beginning of the study period, rates of fentanyl overdose were lowest among Black persons but increased more rapidly, eventually surpassing Whites. Currently, White females may be at particularly low risk of fentanyl overdose and Black females at high risk. Rates were highest for younger and middle-aged groups. Over time, fentanyl was more likely detected without the presence of other opioids. Conclusions: Fentanyl has increasingly been detected in fatal overdose deaths in Marion County. Policy and program responses must focus on education for those at highest risk of fentanyl exposure and death. These responses should also be tailored to meet the unique needs of high-risk demographics.
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    Opioid Overdoses in Indiana: A Closer Look at Opioid Type
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2018-06) Kooreman, Harold
    The misuse of prescription and illicit opioids remains at epidemic proportions, costing the United States billions of dollars annually. Overdose deaths in both the U.S. and Indiana have seen a dramatic increase over the past 10 years. Until recently, prescription opioids were responsible for the greatest number of overdose deaths, but now have been surpassed by fatalities involving heroin and illicitly manufactured narcotics, primarily fentanyl.