The Opioid Crisis - Challenges for Forensic Toxicologists

The increasing use of prescription and non-medical prescription opioids has created a significant public health crisis. The rising rate of opioid-related deaths across North America has led to a proliferation of opioids in forensic casework and increased the workload for forensic toxicology laboratories. In addition, increased availability of illicit fentanyl, fentanyl analogues including carfentanil, and other novel synthetic opioids such as U-47700, has created many challenges for forensic toxicology laboratories. Methods capable of detecting and quantitating new compounds must be established despite limited information on toxicologically relevant concentrations. The collaboration between forensic toxicology laboratories and public health organizations can be a critical tool in guiding public safety and public health decisions to help address this significant healthcare crisis. This presentation will provide an overview on the challenges the opioid crisis has had on forensic toxicologists and how the timely detection of novel opioids and/or regional trends in drug use can provide valuable information for public health organizations.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define the opioid crisis

2. Identify different types of opioids that are observed in forensic toxicology laboratories

3. Explain challenges for forensic toxicologists in identifying and interpreting opioid concentrations in forensic casework