Recent research indicates a change in consumption patterns: people now prefer smoking fentanyl rather than injecting it.
THE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that 70% of the 109,000 overdose deaths in 2022 involved fentanyl, with an increasing number of users choosing to smoke it.
Between 2020 and 2022, the percentage of overdose deaths with evidence of smoking increased to 73.7%, while injection-related deaths decreased by 29.1%. These changes are more pronounced when it comes to fentanyl.
Deaths linked to fentanyl smoking
The study is based on data from death certificates, post-mortem toxicology tests and forensic reports from 28 law enforcement jurisdictions. This information made the transition clear: Opioid users transitioned from injecting heroin to smoking fentanyl.
Fentanyl-related deaths increased 8.4%. However, the alarming figure is the 109% increase in deaths with proof of smoking.
According to the High Times, the University of Utah explained that “The fastest way to get a drug to the brain is to smoke it. When a drug like tobacco smoke is absorbed into the lungs, nicotine (the chemical in tobacco addictive) penetrates the lungs”. blood where it can travel rapidly to the brain. This quick delivery is one reason why smoking cigarettes is so addictive. This could explain the shift from injections to smoking.
Despite the potential risks of injecting, the CDC points out that smoking can increase the risk of overdose. Therefore, through this research, the organization seeks to promote educational programs and harm reduction initiatives to counter the growing number of deaths caused by this opioid.
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