Self-identification of nonpharmaceutical fentanyl exposure following heroin overdose.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To compare user self-identification of nonpharmaceutical fentanyl exposure with confirmatory urine drug testing in emergency department (ED) patients presenting after heroin overdose.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of adult ED patients who presented after a heroin overdose requiring naloxone administration. Participants provided verbal consent after which they were asked a series of questions regarding their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs toward heroin and nonpharmaceutical fentanyl. Participants also provided urine samples, which were analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to identify the presence of fentanyl, heroin metabolites, other clandestine opioids, common pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse.

SUBMITTER: Griswold MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5975225 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature