The Deadly Surge: Fentanyl and Stimulants Fuel Overdose Crisis in the US

The United States is experiencing a "fourth wave" of the opioid crisis, characterized by a surge in overdose deaths caused by the combination of stimulants and the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Synthetic opioids accounted for 75% of overdose deaths in 2021, surpassing 100,000 for the first time. The proportion of fentanyl-plus-stimulant overdoses increased over fiftyfold from 2010 to 2021, with cocaine and methamphetamine being the most commonly combined stimulants. The rise of polysubstance overdoses presents a new challenge in the ongoing crisis, as fentanyl is now found in various illicit drugs. The potency of fentanyl makes it particularly dangerous when combined with stimulants, and effective treatments for stimulant use disorder are limited. Public health experts are working to understand the evolving overdose crisis and implement appropriate interventions.