TITLE:
Polysubstance Use and Overdose Visualized via Maps: Amphetamines and Cocaine
AUTHORS:
Robert B. Raffa, Joseph V. Pergolizzi Jr., Herm Cukier
KEYWORDS:
Polysubstance Use/Abuse, Use Disorder, Overdose, Maps, Amphetamine, Cocaine
JOURNAL NAME:
Pharmacology & Pharmacy,
Vol.13 No.5,
May
31,
2022
ABSTRACT: Abuse of drug substances and resultant overdose deaths are no longer very
straightforward—viz., attributable to a single chemical entity of known
purity. The reality is that most overdose deaths involve polysubstance use (i.e.,
the use of combinations of substances). Further, the combinations are often of
unknown purity, and even of unknown composition. Overdose deaths are at
all-time highs. The depressing statistics are monitored and reported by several
international and governmental organizations such as the WHO (World Health
Organization), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), several Institutes
of the NIH (National Institutes of Health), Regulators, and Enforcement
Agencies (e.g., DEA). The information is disseminated for free for
review and use. But it is our observation that although numeric presentation is
helpful and adequate for professionals, the non-expert and the visual learner
often find a visual representation clearer and compelling. With this in mind,
we present the “gestalt” of polysubstance use and overdose using available maps
of the data. The previous article in the series considered the opioids. This
one considers amphetamines and cocaine, and places the rise in
opioid-associated overdose deaths in the context of other abused drugs.