Characteristics of fatal ‘novel’ synthetic opioid toxicity in Australia
May 2022
Citation:
Darke, S., Peacock, A., Duflou, J., Farrell, M., & Lappin, J. (2022). Characteristics of fatal ‘novel’ synthetic opioid toxicity in Australia. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 232. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109292
Background
Aims: To determine 1. The characteristics of all recorded cases of fatal drug poisoning involving novel synthetic opioids (NSOs) in Australia; 2. The toxicology of cases; and 3. The major autopsy findings.
Methods
Review of all fatal poisonings related to NSOs in Australia 2000–2021 identified in the National Coronial Information System.
Results
Thirty-one cases were identified, 96.8% due to unintentional drug toxicity. The mean age was 31.9 years and 87.1% were male. Only six were aged over forty. A history of substance use problems was documented in 80.6% and 58.1% had a history of injecting drug use. In 32.3% the final route of administration of a NSO was by non-injecting routes of administration. Ten NSOs were identified. Fentanyl analogues were present in 67.2%, most commonly furanylfenatyl (19.4%). Other NSO types were present in 39.7%, most commonly U-47700 (35.5%). Substances other than NSOs were present in 90.3%, most commonly benzodiazepines (67.7%) and other opioids (51.6%). A CNS depressant in addition to NSOs was present in 90.3%, and a new psychoactive substance other than a NSO in 25.8%. Pulmonary oedema was diagnosed in 82.6%, aspiration of vomitus in 30.4%, and acute bronchopneumonia in 17.4%.
Conclusions
Ten NSOs were identified. Case characteristics suggest a younger cohort whose profile is more typical of use of other NPS than of the established opioids. A large proportion used NSOs by non-injecting routes of administration.
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