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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
10:13
Fentanyl Analog Screening using LC-TIMS-TOF MS/MS
Published on: November 8, 2024
Fentanyl epidemic in Chicago, Illinois and surrounding Cook County
Heather Schumann1, Tim Erickson, Trevonne M Thompson
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Pharmacy, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. heather.eyrich@gmail.com
Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|June 28, 2008
Summary
Illicit fentanyl abuse led to 342 deaths in Chicago and Cook County between 2005-2006. This opioid toxicity outbreak highlighted the need for coordinated public health responses to manage such crises.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Illicit fentanyl abuse poses a significant public health threat, with potential for widespread epidemics and high mortality rates.
- This study examines emergency department visits for opioid toxicity and a specific outbreak of fentanyl-related fatalities in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe emergency department encounters for opioid toxicity.
- To analyze data on illicit fentanyl-related fatalities in Chicago and Cook County.
- To understand the scope and timeline of a fentanyl outbreak.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of emergency department charts for opioid overdoses.
- Analysis of data from the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office Fentanyl Fatality Database (April 2005 - December 2006).
Main Results:
- The emergency department treated 43 patients for opioid toxicity, with 83.6% arriving via paramedic transport and 80.4% receiving naloxone.
- The Medical Examiner's office recorded 342 fentanyl-related fatalities during the study period, with a peak in deaths during Spring and Fall 2006.
- Illicit fentanyl accounted for 6.9% of all Medical Examiner cases in 2006, with approximately 80% of deaths occurring within Chicago.
Conclusions:
- An outbreak of 342 fentanyl-related deaths occurred in Chicago and Cook County from April 2005 to December 2006.
- The findings underscore the critical need for an interdisciplinary approach to effectively identify, communicate, and manage such public health emergencies.
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