Opioids to Overdoses: Fentanyl on the streets has complicated the opioid pandemic, making it even more dangerous. The New York Times writes that drug addicts are using various drugs, making health officials’ jobs harder. Polysubstance use is common among 70–80% of opioid-addicted people, according to the CDC. Doctor Cara Poland, an associate professor at Michigan State University, calls it an addiction catastrophe, not merely an opioid pandemic.
The trend involves the combination of various substances, including newer drugs like the animal tranquilizer xylazine, anti-anxiety medications such as Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin, and counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. Addiction medicine specialist Dr. Paul Trowbridge warns that “sloppy” drug dealers may contaminate their supply with fentanyl, making it unpredictable and dangerous for users. The situation has created what Trowbridge calls a “killing field.”
While fentanyl often dominates headlines, methamphetamine has quietly made a comeback, driven by the production of a more potent drug. According to the Texas Tribune, meth is causing a significant impact, with rising fatalities even in Texas. Peter Stout of the Houston Forensic Science Center notes that “Meth is eating everybody’s lunch, and nobody’s talking about it.”
Treating addiction to opioids becomes more challenging when stimulants like meth are involved, as strategies that work for opioids are less effective for stimulants. The difficulty lies in identifying the moment when someone is ready for treatment, especially with methamphetamine use on the rise. Harm reduction workers emphasize the need for attention to this newer problem of multi-drug use, which is now a factor in 42% of opioid overdoses. While substantial resources are allocated to treating opioid addiction, there is a call for policymakers to address the evolving challenge of polysubstance use.
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