The CDC reports that overdose deaths from smoking (mainly fentanyls) now exceed overdose deaths from injecting. Note that fentanyls is now plural – there are more than one synthetic versions. So the image of the classic overdose victim with scarred veins may no longer be accurate. Police, paramedics, health care workers, and teachers should be aware of this change.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7306a2.htm?s_cid=mm7306a2_e&ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM122531&ACSTrackingLabel=This%20Week%20in%20MMWR%3A%20Vol.%2073%2C%20February%2015%2C%202024&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM122531