OPAM Workshop: Medical Review Officer Training Course: Toxicology Testing and the MRO, A Physician's Role in the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse-285274

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Anthony Decker, an osteopathic physician and Chief Medical Officer for the Division of Developmental Disabilities in Arizona, discusses the emergent landscape of psychoactive drugs on the street in 2023. He highlights the new synthetic substances of abuse, emphasizing the increased prevalence and detection of substances like fentanyl, which is heavily implicated in drug-related deaths, as well as xylazine and cannabinoids. The distribution channels include the internet, legal outlets like cannabis stores, and illegal routes via semi-submersibles and the southern U.S. border. The development and variety of synthetic drugs, such as cathinones and synthetic cannabinoids, are concerning due to their potency, potential for abuse, and health impacts. Dr. Decker also addresses the vaping crisis, which has been co-opted by organized crime to deliver highly potent substances, including fentanyl. E-cigarette and cartridge misuse, particularly among youth, raises new public health challenges. He stresses the necessity for dynamic monitoring systems to adapt to these evolving threats to public health and highlights the sociopolitical challenges posed by narcoterrorism and its interplay with global organized crime. His presentation is intended as an update for medical review officers and those involved in public health safety.

Keywords

psychoactive drugs

synthetic substances

fentanyl

xylazine

cannabinoids

vaping crisis

public health

narcoterrorism

organized crime