In 2021, a significant increase in the use of stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamines combined with fentanyl has been observed, leading these drugs to become the most common found in overdose cases across the United States. This trend has been identified as the fourth wave of the ongoing opioid crisis, resulting in a rise in the number of deaths and aggravating the devastating impact of substance abuse on American society.
According to Joseph Friedman, the principal investigator of the study, the use of fentanyl alongside stimulants has become the leading cause of overdose deaths. Friedman mentions that "fentanyl has ushered in a polysubstance overdose crisis, meaning people are mixing fentanyl with other drugs and synthetic substances."
The study conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and published in the journal "Addiction" in September 2024 revealed a concerning increase in overdose deaths of fentanyl combined with stimulants. The proportion of deaths from this combination significantly increased between 2010 and 2021, reaching 32.3% of overdose deaths.
The addiction crisis has developed in various phases, with the first wave marked by an increase in deaths from prescribed opioids, followed by heroin in 2010, fentanyl in 2013, and finally, the fourth wave with overdoses of fentanyl combined with stimulants since 2015.
It is estimated that about 29.7 million adults in the U.S. suffer from some substance use disorder, with alcohol and illicit drugs being the most common. Additionally, an alarming statistic is that deaths related to the combination of mental health, substance abuse, and alcohol have significantly increased in recent years.
Addiction and drug abuse in the United States result in economic losses exceeding $740 billion annually, including lost productivity, medical expenses, and crime-related costs. It is crucial to urgently address this public health crisis to prevent further deterioration in American society and reduce the terrible consequences it creates for millions of people.
