Page 1 - CBRNe December 2017 vPress Synthetic Opiods

CBRNe December 2017 vPress:CBRNe December 2017 vPress 02/01/2018 10:01 Page 25

Dr Christina Baxter, ceo of Emergency Response TIPS, US, and Dr Michael Logan,
of the research and scientific branch, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services,
Australia, on Synthetic Opioids in Operational Environments – Part I: Detection CBRNeWORLD

Looking for

my china girl

ince1999, the US has seen a the case of fentanyl, for an average important for responders to apply a
dramatic increase in prescriptions 75kg (165lb) person, the dose required risk based approach to ensure that they
Sfor opioid pain relievers (OPR). 1 for an analgesic effect is estimated to be are properly protected from the
These include opiates derived from 2.5micrograms, an anaesthetic effect material they are detecting, and so
natural opium sources (eg, morphine ranges between 25 and 125micrograms, prevent accidental exposure or
and codeine), semisynthetic opioids (eg, and the lethal dose is 2.5milligrams. contamination. The protective posture
oxycodone and hydrocodone), and may include respiratory protection
synthetic opioids (eg, fentanyl). OPR How does this relate to CBRNE? with chemical protective clothing or be
treatment admissions and overdose In October 2002, some of the materials as simple as interrogating the sample
deaths have risen in parallel with the that are ravaging the US and Canada in within a glove box or laboratory type
increase in prescriptions. Until 2011, the current drug epidemic were used by portable fume hood.
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most opioid overdose deaths resulted the Russian federal security service in Once the responders’ safety is
from the misuse and/or abuse of an attempt to resolve the hostage crisis managed, the next step will be
prescription opioids. Since then, in the Melnikov Street theatre. The determining the amount of material
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prescription overdoses have levelled off UK’s Defence Science and Technology available and its form for detection.
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and heroin overdoses have soared. It Laboratory (Dstl) compared open Trace detection techniques are required
has become easier and cheaper for literature publications by government for samples which are less than 1
people addicted to opioid prescription scientists from around the world both microgram in available materials. Trace
drugs to switch to heroin. before and after the siege, and have samples are generally residues on
In fact, people who are addicted to shown an increased interest in the use surfaces, outside packages, at
oxycodone are 40 times more likely to of synthetic opioids as incapacitating interfaces, etc. Bulk detection
become addicted to heroin than the agents. While there are many synthetic technologies are only used with
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average person. Since 2013, there has opioids, the most commonly discussed samples of visible amounts of material.
been a sharp rise in deaths related to are fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. This paper describes considerations the
heroin mixed with fentanyl or fentanyl Originally developed by Janssen operator can use to choose the
analogues, often unknown to the user. Pharmaceuticals as OPRs in 1960 , the appropriate detection equipment for
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In that same period, drug overdoses fentanyl class of compounds have their operations. It does not cover all
have become the leading cause of death become drugs of abuse more recently. currently available detectors, just a
for Americans under 50. In 2017, the There are approximately 1,400 possible sample subset.
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White House labelled the opioid fentanyl derivatives, of which
epidemic a national public health approximately 500 would have toxicities Choosing a trace detector for field
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emergency. Sadly, the US is not alone suitable for clandestine use, over 200 operations
in facing this epidemic. Canada is are known to have been known to been The two detection technologies capable
fighting the epidemic in parallel, and produced, and over 30 have been seen of detecting fentanyl and its analogues
Europe and Australia are quickly seeing in the current drug trade. at trace levels (less than a microgram)
its early stages. in operational environments are mass
Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues are Detecting the threat spectrometry (MS) and ion mobility
predominantly a respiratory hazard to As the synthetic opioid crisis evolves, spectroscopy (IMS). Table 1 compares
first responders. While they are also a detection technologies are being some commercially available products
dermal hazard, the speed at which the enhanced to ensure that synthetic using characteristic which are important
material penetrates the skin and moves opioids can be detected, categorised, in the operational environment. These
into the blood stream is very slow and and/or identified. Prior to beginning include system size/weight, selectivity,
is not a likely source of a toxic dose. In any detection regime, it is firstly sensitivity, logistics, speed of sample

CBRNe South America, UCA, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 7 Mar 2018 www.cbrneworld.com/southamerica2018

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