Concern over overdoses caused by new psychoactive substances and potent opioids are being voiced throughout many countries. In Norway, recent reports on the increase in overdose deaths caused by nitazenes illustrate the changing landscape of drugs involved in fatal overdoses.
Currently in the pre-hospital emergency setting and emergency department, there is no systematic analysis of the treatment of overdoses. The presence of potent substances are typically uncovered post-mortem, or as part of research. Mortality registry data provides a delayed and incomplete picture, and information on all patients who have been treated for overdose without dying would need to be accessed from alternative sources. The spring of 2024 has already seen reports of pockets of increased mortality, such as in Bodø, but there is no systematic collection and analysis of data that can be used for prevention and treatment.
This results in fragmented and delayed access to information on risks and trends, especially relating to new substances. The health service itself must address surveillance and preparation for outbreaks with strong potent opioids and new psychoactive substances. The authors call for improvements in systems that can register, analyze, and systematically share information about overdose events in as close to real time as possible. Much of this data exists, unused on several platforms.
The authors comment that both new types of overdose patients and new drugs is changing, and different approaches to monitoring and response are required.
Read the article (in Norwegian)