An outbreak of designer drug--related deaths in Pennsylvania
J. Hibbs, J. Perper and C. L. Winek
Division of Field Services, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga.
3-Methylfentanyl ("China White") is a "designer" opiate that has caused
more than 100 overdose deaths in California since 1979, but that has not
been associated previously with deaths east of the Rocky Mountains. During
1988, 3-methylfentanyl was identified in 16 fatal overdose cases in
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, contributing to a fourfold rise in overdose
mortality during October of that year. Morphine was detected in the blood
of five persons (31%) and cocaine in the blood of three persons (19%) dying
of 3-methylfentanyl overdoses; these were demographically similar to 99
other fatal overdose cases investigated by the county coroner from 1986
through 1988. This documents the contribution of 3-methylfentanyl to
overdose mortality in an eastern city and the use of 3-methylfentanyl with
other illegal drugs. Drug abusers in the northeastern United States should
be considered at risk for more "designer drug" overdose outbreaks in the
future.
