The impact of the opioid crisis is staggering. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 10 million people aged 12 or older abused opioids in 2019, and two-thirds of overdose-related deaths in the U.S. involved an opioid. Globally, 80% of premature death and disability related to substance abuse in otherwise healthy individuals has been attributed to opioids.
Now, the emergence of powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl and its illicit analogs (chemically similar substances often referred to as designer drugs) has spurred demand for faster, less expensive detection methods. Could spectroscopy be part of an alternative to current toxicological analysis practices?
In this application, an HR series high-resolution spectrometer is used as part of a project to develop a fiber optic sensor for detection and screening of a designer drug that mimics the effects of the powerful opioid fentanyl.
