Recent data indicate that heroin may be laced with fentanyl, causing fatal ventilatory depression (PMID 25869219). Fentanyl congeners have been found in casualties following assault in a public place (PMID 23002178). Poisoning with fentanyl derivatives recently confirmed (PMID 28349714)
Frequency - Incidence
Incidence of respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as assessed by number of reported/published cases in the literature. Red digits in stars indicate: 0 = Very rare, questionable signal · 1 = < 10 cases · 2 = 10-50 cases · 3 = 50–100 cases · 4 = 100-200 cases · 5 = >200 cases
Evidence level/grade
Evidence level for respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as estimated using Hill’s (1965), Naranjo’s (1981), and Bégaud’s (1985) criteria applied to published cases. Blue digits in stars indicate: 0 = Questionable · 1 = Low · 2 = Moderate · 3 = Robust · 4 = Definite · 5 = Unquestionable, pathognomonic
