{"id":2173,"date":"2022-08-02T08:00:55","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T08:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/?p=2173"},"modified":"2026-02-09T20:32:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T20:32:27","slug":"reducing-the-number-of-fentanyl-related-poisonings-and-well-as-deaths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/reducing-the-number-of-fentanyl-related-poisonings-and-well-as-deaths\/","title":{"rendered":"Reducing the Number of Fentanyl-Related Poisonings and well as Deaths"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MotionNews reports are filled with stories about the problem of fentanyl-laced counterfeit prescription pills increasing in the US.\u00a0 This year Drug and Alcohol Dependence<\/em><\/a>, an international journal, examined trends in fentanyl seizures in the US from 2018 through 2021. The authors aimed to determine whether there have been shifts in the number of fentanyl seizures and in the form of fentanyl seized in the US, possibly placing a wider population at risk for unintentional exposure.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no surprise that seizures of drugs containing fentanyl have been increasing along with the increased shipments. But the results from the studies show that over a quarter of fentanyl seizures are now in counterfeit pills, disguised as oxycodone or other prescription drugs.<\/p>\n

We hear about the overwhelming number of overdose deaths resulting from fentanyl-laced drugs, but there\u2019s another, sometimes overlooked statistic: nonfatal fentanyl-related poisonings have also skyrocketed.\u00a0 The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse<\/a> examined National Poison Control data and found that characteristics of individuals exposed to fentanyl continue to shift, with use via inhalation increasing and medical outcomes of nonfatal poisonings becoming more severe.<\/p>\n

We previously wrote about the\u00a0US Drug Enforcement Administration<\/a>\u00a0issuing a safety alert concerning the problem of International and domestic criminal drug networks flooding the United States with lethal counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. According to the alert, these pills \u2013 over 10 million seized last year \u2014 are \u201cmass-produced by criminal drug networks in labs, deceptively marketed as legitimate prescription pills, and are killing unsuspecting Americans at an unprecedented rate.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection<\/a> (CBP) uses the latest technologies, including handheld narcotics analyzers,<\/a> to help analyze and identify drugs and their precursors. These analyzers used at ports, borders, and even mail facilities, help keep these deadly substances off the streets and can also help keep CBP agents safe from exposure.<\/p>\n

Some of these material identification device<\/a>s are quickly able to successfully identify \u2013 within minutes \u2013 unknown substances including fentanyl. The\u00a0Raman technology<\/a>\u00a0enables a user to conduct non-contact and non-destructive analysis of samples in transparent and translucent containers without the need to open them and manipulate each sample, thus increasing user safety. Conversely, although\u00a0FTIR spectroscopy<\/a>\u00a0requires direct contact analysis, it is more efficient and safer when identifying dark-colored substances such as black tar heroin. It also has fewer chemical limitations and performs better on substances that suffer from very high levels of fluorescence, which sometimes obscures Raman spectra. Both technologies thus complement each other as well as confirm results obtained by each other.<\/p>\n

By integrating both\u00a0Raman and FTIR into a single analyzer,<\/a>\u00a0operators harness the power of each technology while enabling a broader range of chemical identification, providing\u00a0complementary and confirmatory testing in a single, field-portable device. (Read how\u00a0airports are using spectroscopy instruments for incoming drugs<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Protecting borders is especially difficult, but it is crucial to detect and deter dangerous substances before they reach the public. These officers and the tools they use to identify counterfeit pills are major lines of defense in keeping to keep fentanyl from hurting and killing unsuspecting victims.<\/p>\n

References:<\/em><\/p>\n

Joseph J. Palamar, Linda B. Cottler, Bruce A. Goldberger, Stevan Geoffrey Severtson, David J. Grundy, Janetta L. Iwanicki & Daniel Ciccarone\u00a0(2022)\u00a0Trends in characteristics of fentanyl-related poisonings in the United States, 2015-2021,\u00a0The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse,\u00a0DOI:\u00a010.1080\/00952990.2022.2081923<\/a><\/p>\n

Joseph J. Palamar, Daniel Ciccarone, Caroline Rutherford, Katherine M. Keyes, Thomas H. Carr, Linda B. Cottler, Trends in seizures of powders and pills containing illicit fentanyl in the United States, 2018 through 2021, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Volume 234,2022.<\/p>\n

Learn more about the chemical and drug identifying <\/em>products<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>technologies used by law enforcement agencies<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

News reports are filled with stories about the problem of fentanyl-laced counterfeit prescription pills increasing in the US.\u00a0 This year Drug and Alcohol Dependence, an international journal, examined trends in fentanyl seizures in the US from 2018 through 2021. The authors aimed to determine whether there have been shifts in the number of fentanyl seizures<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1543,"featured_media":2174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[164,3],"tags":[170,177,171,179,167,166],"division":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2173","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-illegal-drugs-and-narcotics","8":"category-public-safety","9":"tag-counterfeit-pills","10":"tag-drug-bust","11":"tag-fake-drugs","12":"tag-fentanyl","13":"tag-law-enforcement","14":"tag-narcotics","15":"entry"},"_selected_authors":[1368],"_selected_reviewers":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nReducing 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Among the most concerning of these are nitazenes, a class of opioids first synthesized in the 1950s but never approved for medical use.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drug Enforcement & Narcotics"","block_context":{"text":"Drug Enforcement & Narcotics","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/illegal-drugs-and-narcotics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Handcuffed, drugs with handcuffs, the concept of drugs and crime","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/10\/iStock-1347646224_Nitazenes-e1759520545211.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/10\/iStock-1347646224_Nitazenes-e1759520545211.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/10\/iStock-1347646224_Nitazenes-e1759520545211.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/10\/iStock-1347646224_Nitazenes-e1759520545211.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/10\/iStock-1347646224_Nitazenes-e1759520545211.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/10\/iStock-1347646224_Nitazenes-e1759520545211.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2667,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/how-arkansas-combats-the-opioid-crisis-with-advanced-raman-technology\/","url_meta":{"origin":2173,"position":1},"title":"How Arkansas Combats the Opioid Crisis with Advanced Raman Technology","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"October 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The ongoing opioid crisis poses a significant challenge for law enforcement and public health agencies across the United States. With the proliferation of new and dangerous substances, traditional methods of drug identification and intervention often fall short. The Arkansas Opioid Recovery Project\u2019s (ARORP) Sentinel Project leverages cutting-edge drug analyzers that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drug Enforcement & Narcotics"","block_context":{"text":"Drug Enforcement & Narcotics","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/illegal-drugs-and-narcotics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Crime concept. 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States, local governments, tribal entities, and other plaintiffs have filed thousands of lawsuits alleging that organizations across the opioid supply chain contributed to opioid misuse and addiction. As of January 2025, these\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drug Enforcement & Narcotics"","block_context":{"text":"Drug Enforcement & Narcotics","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/illegal-drugs-and-narcotics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A multiple exposure of a wooden gavel and a long row of Tuscan order columns. A blue color cast dominates the scene.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/06\/iStock-922697184.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/06\/iStock-922697184.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/06\/iStock-922697184.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/06\/iStock-922697184.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/06\/iStock-922697184.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2910,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/national-police-week-advancing-officer-safety-through-rapid-threat-identification\/","url_meta":{"origin":2173,"position":3},"title":"National Police Week: Advancing Officer Safety Through Rapid Threat Identification","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"May 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Introduction Every year, National Police Week recognizes the service, sacrifice, and commitment of law enforcement professionals who protect communities under increasingly complex and dangerous conditions. The week serves as both a remembrance for fallen officers and an acknowledgment of the evolving risks faced by modern policing. This year, National Police\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drug Enforcement & Narcotics"","block_context":{"text":"Drug Enforcement & Narcotics","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/illegal-drugs-and-narcotics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"National Police Week poster, card.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2974,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/how-wireless-connectivity-accelerates-critical-chemical-information-for-first-responders\/","url_meta":{"origin":2173,"position":4},"title":"How Wireless Connectivity Accelerates Critical Chemical Information for First Responders\u00a0","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"September 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Article Summary When first responders enter a hazardous materials incident or suspected clandestine laboratory, rapidly understanding an unknown chemical can directly influence decisions about protective equipment, scene control, sampling, decontamination, and escalation. These environments may contain toxic, corrosive, flammable, explosive, or otherwise hazardous substances, making timely chemical identification an important\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)"","block_context":{"text":"Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/hazardous-materials-hazmat\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Smart city and communication network concept. 5G. IoT (Internet of Things). Telecommunication.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/09\/iStock-2163547048_citywifi-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/09\/iStock-2163547048_citywifi-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/09\/iStock-2163547048_citywifi-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/09\/iStock-2163547048_citywifi-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/09\/iStock-2163547048_citywifi-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/09\/iStock-2163547048_citywifi-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2928,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/dhs-makes-648-million-available-for-firefighters-and-first-responders-make-sure-to-apply-before-the-deadline\/","url_meta":{"origin":2173,"position":5},"title":"DHS Makes $648 Million Available for Firefighters and First Responders; Make Sure to Apply Before the Deadline","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"May 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Article Summary Communities across the United States rely on firefighters and emergency response teams to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure. To strengthen local emergency preparedness, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA announced $648 million in new funding opportunities designed to support fire departments and first responder organizations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)"","block_context":{"text":"Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/hazardous-materials-hazmat\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fire department truck in emergency in New York streets.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2022\/07\/iStock-1133586898_ambulance.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1543"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2173"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2173\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2173"},{"taxonomy":"division","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/division?post=2173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}