An analysis of the size of law enforcement seizures of illicit fentanyl in the United States, 2018–2023

IF 3 3区医学 Q2 SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Drug and alcohol review Pub Date : 2025-02-18 DOI:10.1111/dar.14022

Joseph J. Palamar, Nicole D. Fitzgerald, Thomas H. Carr

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Law enforcement seizure data can indicate potential shifts in drug availability. We examined trends in the size of illicit fentanyl seizures in the United States from 2018 through 2023.

Methods

Using national High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas data, we examined trends in the weight of fentanyl powder and number of fentanyl-containing pills per seizure with a focus on federal and other common state-level weight cutoffs that indicate various levels of trafficking (e.g., 1–4 g, 40–399 g, ≥400 g).

Results

Between 2018 and 2023, the plurality of fentanyl powder seizures weighed 40–399 g (27.7%), followed by seizures weighing 4–39 g (25.8%), 1–4 g (18.6%), ≥400 g (17.4%), and <1 g (10.4%). During this period, there was a decrease in the percentage weighing ≥400 g (annual percentage change [APC] = −5.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] −9.4, −1.0) and an increase in the percentage weighing 1–4 g (APC = 5.6, 95% CI 3.2, 8.1). With respect to fentanyl pill seizures, the plurality contained 40–399 pills (10 = 1 g; 25.4%), followed by 400–3999 (21.8%), <10 pills (20.4%), 10–39 pills (18.6%) and ≥4000 pills (13.8%). During this period, there was a decrease in seizures of <10 pills (APC = −12.6, 95% CI −23.2, −0.7) and increases in seizures containing 400–3999 (APC = 14.0, 95% CI 5.3, 23.1) and ≥4000 pills (APC = 12.6, 95% CI 7.4, 17.8).

Discussion and Conclusions

The size of fentanyl seizures varies greatly, with a sizeable portion legally classified as drug trafficking. While the weight of fentanyl powder seizures is decreasing, the size of pill seizures is increasing. The increasing availability of fentanyl pills in particular needs to be monitored to inform prevention and harm reduction efforts.

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2018-2023年美国执法部门缉获非法芬太尼的规模分析。

执法查获数据可以表明药物可得性的潜在变化。我们研究了2018年至2023年美国非法芬太尼缉获量的趋势。方法：利用国家高强度贩毒地区的数据，我们检查了芬太尼粉末的重量和每次缉获的含芬太尼药片的数量的趋势，重点关注联邦和其他常见的州一级重量界限，表明不同的贩运水平（例如，1-4克，40-399克，≥400克）。结果：2018 - 2023年，芬太尼粉末缉获量40-399 g(27.7%)，其次为4-39 g（25.8%）、1-4 g（18.6%）、≥400 g（17.4%）。讨论与结论：芬太尼缉获量大小差异较大，有相当一部分被合法归类为贩毒。虽然芬太尼粉末的缉获量在减少，但药丸缉获量却在增加。特别是需要监测芬太尼药片供应的增加，以便为预防和减少危害的工作提供信息。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Drug and alcohol review SUBSTANCE ABUSE-

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

10.50%

发文量

151

期刊介绍： Drug and Alcohol Review is an international meeting ground for the views, expertise and experience of all those involved in studying alcohol, tobacco and drug problems. Contributors to the Journal examine and report on alcohol and drug use from a wide range of clinical, biomedical, epidemiological, psychological and sociological perspectives. Drug and Alcohol Review particularly encourages the submission of papers which have a harm reduction perspective. However, all philosophies will find a place in the Journal: the principal criterion for publication of papers is their quality.