30. Naloxone Use in Novel Potent Opioid and Fentanyl Overdoses in Emergency Department Patients

Naloxone Use in Novel Potent Opioid and Fentanyl Overdoses in Emergency Department Patients

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CEUs: 2 Clinical

Average read time: 55 minutes.

Short Summary of the Article:

This study examines the clinical outcomes and naloxone use in patients admitted to the emergency department with opioid overdoses involving novel potent opioids (NPOs) such as brorphine, isotonitazene, and metonitazene, compared with fentanyl overdoses. The findings show that NPO overdoses require higher naloxone doses and are associated with severe outcomes like cardiac arrest, especially with metonitazene. The study highlights the rising presence of NPOs in the illicit opioid supply and their higher potency compared to fentanyl, posing a growing public health threat.

Learning Outcomes 

Upon completion of this activity, you should have an understanding of:

1. The clinical challenges in treating opioid overdoses involving novel potent opioids compared to fentanyl.
2. The significance of naloxone in reversing overdoses from these powerful synthetic opioids.
3. The public health implications of the increasing presence of novel potent opioids in the illicit drug market

(Max of 3 Attempts)