"Rising Trend: Smoking Overtakes Injection in Drug Overdose Deaths"
A new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that the percentage of overdose deaths linked to smoking drugs has risen sharply, surpassing injection as the leading route of drug use involved in such deaths. The report attributes this shift to the perception of lower overdose risk and greater control over drug consumption when smoking, as well as the potential for fewer adverse health effects compared to injecting. However, the rise in smoking drug use is also associated with the increased presence of deadly synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, which remains a significant factor contributing to the record-high drug overdose deaths in 2022 and 2023. Harm reduction efforts are urged to provide safer smoking materials, fentanyl test strips, naloxone, and overdose awareness education to address the evolving trends in drug consumption.