The growing use of synthetic opioids [such as illicitly-manufactured fentanyl (IMF)] in combination with cocaine and methamphetamine has resulted in significant increases in co-use-related overdose deaths.
The triple wave crisis has been amplified by “fourth wave,” which has been dominated by fentanyl but also includes cocaine and methamphetamine-related deaths. Although there has been a decline in overdose deaths involving prescription opioids, opioid crisi
The opioid epidemic and overdose deaths have been described as a “triple wave epidemic,” with the first wave involving prescription opioids, followed by heroin-related overdoses, and the current wave involving illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogs.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought up unprecedented challenges in dealing with the opioid crisis, including those falling under the (i) public policy level: disruptions in addiction treatment recovery services, delivery of mental health/harm reduction services;