‘Fourth wave’ of fentanyl overdose deaths has gripped the nation, experts say: ‘The norm, not the exception’

Experts say the U.S. is currently in a “fourth wave" of opioid overdose deaths, this one marked by a sharp increase in fentanyl — which is a synthetic opioid — being mixed with stimulant drugs.

"We’re now seeing that the use of fentanyl together with stimulants is rapidly becoming the dominant force in the U.S. overdose crisis," said lead author Joseph Friedman, an addiction researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, in a press release. The share of overdoses involving a combination of fentanyl and stimulants increased by more than 50-fold between 2010 and 2015. A clinical director said he has seen "a substantial rise" in the combined use of stimulants and opioids. "Given the risk of overdose and death associated with fentanyl, using it in combination with a stimulant increases the likelihood of death exponentially." Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. 

"Fentanyl has ushered in a polysubstance overdose crisis, meaning that people are mixing fentanyl with other drugs, like stimulants, but also countless other synthetic substances," he continued.