Multiple fatalities in the North of England associated with synthetic fentanyl analogue exposure: Detection and quantitation a case series from early 2017

This paper highlights a new and rapid emergence of these drugs into the UK illicit drug arena. Synthetic fentanyl analogues represent a significant challenge both analytically and clinically within the groups who misuse drugs. It is worthwhile considering the possibility of the presence of these drugs in cases in which a toxicological cause of death is not apparent analytically but there is a history of drug use and circumstantial evidence exists to support a drug-related death as the most likely cause. It may be that synthetic fentanyl analogues should be screened for routinely to avoid reporting any false negative results, but the cost implications and viability of this have not been fully evaluated.