Fact or fiction: Transdermal fentanyl exposure
For opioid toxicity to occur the drug must enter the blood and brain from the environment
The opioid epidemic has created panic not only among medical professionals, but boots on the ground first responders as well.
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, drug-related overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. In 2015, according to the ASAM, there were 52,404 fatal drug overdoses, with 20,101 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers and 12,990 overdose deaths related to heroin.
The statistics are startling and overdose deaths continue to rise as the opioid epidemic becomes more widespread. And even though the epidemic is not a new issue, it is creating challenges for the first responders on scene of potential opioid-related overdose calls.