@article{ref1,
title="A scoping review of law enforcement drug seizures and overdose mortality in the United States",
journal="International journal on drug policy",
year="2024",
author="Cano, Manuel and Timmons, Patricia and Hooten, Madeline and Sweeney, Kaylin and Oh, Sehun",
volume="124",
number="",
pages="e104321-e104321",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Leveraging law enforcement drug seizure data to better respond to the overdose crisis requires an understanding of available evidence and knowledge gaps regarding relationships between drug seizures and overdose mortality. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: This scoping review summarized peer-reviewed literature on associations between law enforcement drug seizures and drug-related mortality in the United States (US) in the era of illicitly-manufactured fentanyl, comparing study data sources, measures, methodologies, settings, and findings. <br><br>METHODS: We identified 388 non-duplicate records from three online databases searched on May 23, 2023. After title/abstract and full-text screening by two independent reviewers, 14 studies met the criteria for inclusion. The included studies tested the association between a measure related to law enforcement drug seizures and an overdose mortality outcome in the US and were published in English, in peer-reviewed journals, during or after 2013. <br><br>RESULTS: Four of 14 studies (29%) included data from the entire US, while the remaining studies focused on an individual state/city/county or a group of states/cities/counties. Synthetic opioid/fentanyl seizures represented the most frequently examined drug seizure category, and overdose deaths overall (involving any drugs) represented the most frequently examined outcome. Most studies used counts/rates of drug seizures, with fewer studies examining dosage/weight, drug combinations, the proportion of drug seizures involving a specific drug, or spatiotemporal distribution. The majority (86%) of studies reported at least one statistically significant positive association between a law enforcement drug seizure measure and an overdose mortality outcome, most consistently for fentanyl-related seizures. <br><br>RESULTS were relatively less consistent for seizures involving stimulants and other drugs. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Studies in this review provided consistent evidence that fentanyl-related seizure measures are positively associated with overdose mortality outcomes, despite the limitations inherent in drug seizure data, even in the absence of available information regarding seizure weight or dosage.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0955-3959",
doi="10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104321",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104321"
}