By PPN News Staff
Almost half of 42,249 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016 involved fentanyl, according to a research letter published in JAMA (2018;319[17]:1819-1821).
Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, have surpassed prescription opioids to become the most common drug associated with overdose deaths in the United States.
Among opioid-related deaths in 2016, 19,413 (45.9%) included fentanyl, 17,087 (40.4%) involved prescription opioids, and 15,469 (36.6%) incorporated heroin, the report