Trends in fentanyl and fentanyl analogue-related overdose deaths - Montgomery County, Ohio, 2015-2017.

INTRODUCTION: There is a lack of information on illicitly manufactured fentanyl and fentanyl analogue-related (IMF) unintentional overdose death trends over time. The study analyzes IMF-related unintentional overdose fatalities that occurred between July 2015 and June 2017 in Montgomery County, Ohio, an area with the highest rates of unintentional overdose mortality in Ohio. METHODS: LC-MS/MS-based method was used to identify fentanyl analogs and metabolites in 724 unintentional overdose death cases. The Chi-square statistic was used to assess differences over time in demographic and drug-related characteristics. RESULTS: The number of unintentional overdose death cases testing positive for IMFs increased by 377% between second half of 2015 and first half of 2017. The majority of decedents were white (82.5%) and male (67.8%). The proportion of fentanyl-only (no other analogs) cases declined from 89.2%-24.6% (p < 0.001), while proportion of fentanyl analogue-containing cases increased from 9.8%-70.3% (p < 0.001) between the second half of 2015 and first half of 2017. The most commonly identified fentanyl analogs were carfentanil (29.7%), furanyl fentanyl (14.1%) and acryl fentanyl (10.2%). Proportion of IMF cases also testing positive for heroin declined from 21.6% to 5.4% (p < 0.001), while methamphetamine positive cases increased from 1.4%-17.8% (p < 0.001) over the same time period. DISCUSSION: Emergence of fentanyl analogs contributed to substantial increases in unintentional overdose deaths. The data indicate a growing overlap between the IMF and methamphetamine outbreaks. Continuous monitoring of local IMF trends and rapid information dissemination to active users are needed to reduce the risks associated with IMF use.

LC-MS/MS-Based Method for the Multiplex Detection of 24 Fentanyl Analogues and Metabolites in Whole Blood at Sub ng mL-1 Concentrations.

The United States and numerous other countries worldwide are currently experiencing a public health crisis due to the abuse of illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) and its analogues. This manuscript describes the development of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based method for the multiplex detection of N = 24 IMF analogues and metabolites in whole blood at concentrations as low as 0.1-0.5 ng mL-1. These available IMFs were fentanyl, norfentanyl, furanyl norfentanyl, remifentanil acid, butyryl norfentanyl, remifentanil, acetyl fentanyl, alfentanil, AH-7921, U-47700, acetyl fentanyl 4-methylphenethyl, acrylfentanyl, para-methoxyfentanyl, despropionyl fentanyl (4-ANPP), furanyl fentanyl, despropionyl para-fluorofentanyl, carfentanil, (±)-cis-3-methyl fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, isobutyryl fentanyl, sufentanil, valeryl fentanyl, para-fluorobutyryl fentanyl, and para-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl. Most IMF analogues (N = 22) could be easily distinguished from one another; the isomeric forms butyryl/isobutyryl fentanyl and para-fluorobutyryl/para-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl could not be differentiated. N = 13 of these IMF analogues were quantified for illustrative purposes, and their forensic quality control standards were also validated for limit of detection (0.017-0.056 ng mL-1), limit of quantitation (0.100-0.500 ng mL-1), selectivity/sensitivity, ionization suppression/enhancement (87-118%), process efficiency (60-95%), recovery (64-97%), bias (<20%), and precision (>80%). This flexible, time- and cost-efficient method was successfully implemented at the Montgomery County Coroner's Office/Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, where it aided in the analysis of N = 725 postmortem blood samples collected from February 2015 to November 2016.

Overdose Deaths Related to Fentanyl and Its Analogs - Ohio, January-February 2017.

Ohio is experiencing unprecedented loss of life caused by unintentional drug overdoses (1), with illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) emerging as a significant threat to public health (2,3). IMF is structurally similar to pharmaceutical fentanyl, but is produced in clandestine laboratories and includes fentanyl analogs that display wide variability in potency (2); variations in chemical composition of these drugs make detection more difficult. During 2010-2015, unintentional drug overdose deaths in Ohio increased 98%, from 1,544 to 3,050.* In Montgomery County (county seat: Dayton), one of the epicenters of the opioid epidemic in the state, unintentional drug overdose deaths increased 40% in 1 year, from 249 in 2015 to 349 in 2016 (estimated unadjusted mortality rate = 57.7 per 100,000) (4). IMFs have not been part of routine toxicology testing at the coroner's offices and other types of medical and criminal justice settings across the country (2,3). Thus, data on IMF test results in the current outbreak have been limited. The Wright State University and the Montgomery County Coroner's Office/Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory (MCCO/MVRCL) collaborated on a National Institutes of Health study of fentanyl analogs and metabolites and other drugs identified in 281 unintentional overdose fatalities in 24 Ohio counties during January-February 2017. Approximately 90% of all decedents tested positive for fentanyl, 48% for acryl fentanyl, 31% for furanyl fentanyl, and 8% for carfentanil. Pharmaceutical opioids were identified in 23% of cases, and heroin in 6%, with higher proportions of heroin-related deaths in Appalachian counties. The majority of decedents tested positive for more than one type of fentanyl. Evidence suggests the growing role of IMFs, and the declining presence of heroin and pharmaceutical opioids in unintentional overdose fatalities, compared with 2014-2016 data from Ohio and other states (3-5). There is a need to include testing for IMFs as part of standard toxicology panels for biological specimens used in the medical, substance abuse treatment, and criminal justice settings.

Analysis of synthetic cathinones commonly found in bath salts in human performance and postmortem toxicology: method development, drug distribution and interpretation of results.

To date, the Toxicology Section of the Montgomery County Coroner's Office/Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory has identified six synthetic cathinones, commonly found in bath salt products, in 43 cases. Thirty-two cases will be reviewed here, including all of the postmortem cases, all of the human performance cases that had blood specimens submitted, and one urine-only human performance case. The following compounds have been confirmed: 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), 3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone (methylone), pyrovalerone, pentylone, alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PVP) and methedrone. The method also screens for mephedrone, butylone and 3-fluoromethcathinone. Case demographics show 42 white males and females ranging in age from 19 to 53 years. The remaining case was that of a 34-year-old Hispanic male. The 43 cases represent 17 driving under the influence, two domestic violence, four suicides, 12 overdoses, six accidents, one drug-facilitated assault and one homicide. Data will be presented on the distribution of some of these cathinones in various matrices. After review, blood concentration does not appear to predict outcome regarding fatalities or impairment. The highest MDPV concentration occurred in a suicide by hanging and the highest methylone concentration was in a driver. The confirmation method is a liquid-liquid extraction with detection by liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode.

Quantitation of first- and second-generation antipsychotics by LC-MS/MS.

Antipsychotic drugs are becoming a larger part of the prescription drug market. In combination with -traditional indications for prescribing these drugs, new effective therapies are proving worthwhile as well. Here, a successful method for detecting both first- and second-generation antipsychotics is presented using a solid phase extraction method and LC-MS/MS detection. This method is used for many sample matrices and can also be used for detecting antidepressants, which are often prescribed in conjunction with antipsychotics.

Vitreous fluid quantification of opiates, cocaine, and benzoylecgonine: comparison of calibration curves in both blood and vitreous matrices with corresponding concentrations in blood.

Vitreous fluid specimens are often used in the Montgomery County Coroner's Office as a second matrix confirmation for both cocaine and opiate analyses. In this manuscript, calibration curves constructed for both vitreous and blood were used to quantify vitreous specimens to evaluate if any matrix effects occur when measuring vitreous specimens using a calibration curve in blood. Cases that screened positive by ELISA for cocaine metabolite and opiates were confirmed by solid-phase extraction. Gas chromatography with mass spectral detection in the positive electron impact mode was used for the detection and quantification of oxycodone, free morphine, codeine, 6-monoacetylmorphine, hydrocodone, cocaine, and benzoylecgonine. For interpretive purposes, no significant matrix effects were found in concentrations of vitreous specimens quantified with a calibration curve constructed in a blood matrix. After determining that vitreous fluid can be accurately measured with blood calibrators, a comparison was made between blood and vitreous concentrations for the above analytes. Concentration differences between blood and vitreous specimens for each drug are evaluated with selected case histories included.