Philadelphia’s Hidden Crisis
Polysubstance Use is Driving Overdose Deaths
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21645198 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kevan Shah (0009-0004-4876-2044, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, corresponding author), Suhanee Mitragotri (0009-0007-7316-6879, Harvard College, Harvard University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue | 10 |
| Pages | 1569-1570 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-24 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Substance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10826084.2025.2506140 |
| PMID | 40380821 |
| OpenAlex | W4410455468 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 1 |
This commentary analyzes findings from recent research revealing Philadelphia's overdose crisis as a complex polysubstance epidemic with significant racial disparities. Nearly two-thirds of overdose deaths in Philadelphia involved multiple substances, with non-Hispanic Black residents disproportionately affected by non-opioid and polysubstance overdoses compared to white residents. The piece examines the troubling connection between prescription medications and overdose deaths, with over one-third of decedents having filled prescriptions for controlled substances in the year before death. Based on these findings, the commentary proposes several public health strategies including expanded harm reduction resources, enhanced prescription monitoring, and wastewater surveillance to address the multifaceted nature of Philadelphia's overdose epidemic
Drug overdose · Environmental health · Medical emergency · Poison control · Polysubstance dependence · Psychiatry · Substance abuse · Suicide prevention · Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects · Medicine · Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
| Highly cited | No |
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