阿片类药物滥用和过量使用是一种日益严重的世界性问题。在美国,从 1991 年到 2015 年,与阿片类药物相关的死亡人数翻了两番。[1]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Opioid overdose: understanding the epidemic. December 2018 [internet publication].https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/ 2011 年,美国有 500 万例因药品相关问题到急诊科就诊的病例;约半数(250 万人)归因于药物使用不当或滥用。[2]Drug Abuse Warning Network. The DAWN report: highlights of the 2011 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) findings on drug-related emergency department visits. February 2013 [internet publication].https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/DAWN127/DAWN127/sr127-DAWN-highlights.htm 自 20 世纪 90 年代后期以来,过量服用阿片类药物的病例急剧增加,部分原因可能归结于更积极的疼痛治疗策略。[3]Paulozzi LJ, Budnitz DS, Xi Y. Increasing deaths from opioid analgesics in the United States. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2006 Sep;15(9):618-27.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16862602?tool=bestpractice.com
2016 年,美国合成阿片类药物过量死亡(美沙酮除外)发生率首次超过海洛因过量死亡发生率(6.2/100,000 vs 4.9/100,000)。[4]Seth P, Scholl L, Rudd RA, et al. Overdose deaths involving opioids, cocaine, and psychostimulants - United States, 2015-2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018 Mar 30;67(12):349-58.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5877356/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29596405?tool=bestpractice.com 加强对美国10个州阿片类药物过量死亡的监测(国家无意药物过量报告系统)发现,其中 7 个州在 2016 年 7 月至 2017 年 6 月期间,半数以上阿片类药物过量死亡病例的检测,显示芬太尼或芬太尼类似物(如 3-甲基芬太尼、卡芬太尼)呈阳性。[5]Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rising numbers of deaths involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, including carfentanil, and increased usage and mixing with non-opioids. HAN no. 413. July 2018 [internet publication].https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00413.asp 来自公共卫生和执法机构的数据显示,可卡因与芬太尼及其类似物的掺杂现象非常普遍。[5]Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rising numbers of deaths involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, including carfentanil, and increased usage and mixing with non-opioids. HAN no. 413. July 2018 [internet publication].https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00413.asp
近期戒断(如监禁期间)会使机体丧失耐受性,进而增加药物过量发生的风险。 因此,此类药物过量是服刑人员出狱后最常见死因;其出狱后 2 周内药物过量的死亡风险是一般人群的 12 倍。[6]Binswanger IA, Stern MF, Deyo RA, et al. Release from prison - a high risk of death for former inmates. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jan 11;356(2):157-65.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17215533?tool=bestpractice.com