Page 24 - WVPC 2017 Annual Report Final

Drugs of Abuse Trends

Trends 2013 through 2017

883 870
846 Non-prescription
721 opioids include:
699
641 656 heroin, fentanyl,
558 564 fentanyl analogs
498
(e.g., carfentanil,
365
332 acetyl fentanyl)

55 56 69
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
All Non-Prescription Opioids All Prescription Opioids Benzodiazepines

Select Drugs of Abuse Trends: Excludes Non-
Prescription Opioids and Benzodiazepines

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

The WVPC tracks overdoses of all drugs of abuse, not just opioids. This is important as many of
these drugs/substances of abuse can cause serious injury or death in addition to risks for
violence, crime, and addiction. In addition, decreases in the use of one drug/substance of abuse
results in increases in the use of another drug/substance for the same purpose. (Note: Hydroco-
done + APAP (acetaminophen) cases fell when legislation moved this drug to Schedule II status.)

For 2017, note the substantial increase in the number of cases involving cocaine and
methamphetamine. These drugs are used along with heroin. This trend is mirrored in national
substance abuse databases.

West Virginia Poison Center Annual Report 2017 Page 24