Page 42 - WVPC 2018 Annual Report.pub

Drugs of Abuse Trends

Non‐prescrip on

opioids include:
heroin, fentanyl,
fentanyl analogs
(e.g., carfentanil,
acetyl fentanyl)

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 addi on to risks for
violence, crime, and addic on. In addi on, 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 legisla on moved this drug to Schedule II status.)

For 2017 and 2018, note the substan al increase in the number of cases involving cocaine and
methamphetamine. These drugs are used along with heroin. This trend is mirrored in na onal
substance abuse databases.

West Virginia Poison Center Annual Report 2018 Page 42