Nonpharmaceutical Fentanyl-Related Deaths — Multiple States, April 2005–March 2007. CDC. July 25, 2008. On April 21, 2006, increases in overdoses were reported among illicit drug users in Camden, New Jersey, via the CDC Epidemic Information Exchange (Epi-X). This alert elicited reports of similar increases in overdoses in other parts of New Jersey, and in Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The increases in Chicago and Detroit had been recognized several months earlier but attributed to heroin overdoses until fentanyl was detected in the blood or urine of some decedents. Illicitly manufactured nonpharmaceutical fentanyl (NPF), a synthetic opioid 30–50 times more potent than heroin (1), also was found by law enforcement personnel and medical examiner staffs at the scene of some overdoses.[ See ]. Watch related video from FDA (2007) in Read more.

Preventing Patient Deaths from Fentanyl Patches. FDA Patient Safety News: September 2007.For more information, please see FDA website:http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts…