{
  "id": 12903213,
  "title": "Study shows how the toxic substances mixed into fentanyl vary across the US and change over time",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/study-shows-how-the-toxic-substances-mixed-into-fentanyl-vary-across",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-08T16:20:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-10-toxic-substances-fentanyl-vary.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has shed light on the varying toxic substances mixed into fentanyl across the United States and how these adulterants change over time. Led by chemist Edward Sisco and his colleagues, the research analyzed 4,563 samples of drug residues collected nationwide between January 2024 and June 2026. The study, published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis, utilized a technology called direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) to identify trace amounts of unknown compounds within seconds. This technique revealed the presence of a diverse range of adulterants, including anesthetics, industrial chemicals, and veterinary sedatives. The researchers found that the prevalence of these adulterants varied regionally and over time, with veterinary sedatives being more common in the eastern part of the country, particularly replacing xylazine with medetomidine. In the western samples, there were fewer but more concentrated additives. The study also noted a significant increase in the number of adulterants per sample, from typically one or two to frequently six or more, making overdose treatment more complicated. Sisco emphasized that the findings provide crucial data for public health officials and law enforcement agencies, enabling them to plan more effective treatment strategies for individuals who consume fentanyl. By tracking the movement of adulterants across different regions, researchers aim to predict the spread of new additives and alert authorities in advance.",
  "summary": "Public health officials and law enforcement agents are facing a growing challenge in combating the fentanyl epidemic: They lack detailed and timely information on the harmful and potentially deadly substances, including anesthetics, industrial chemicals, veterinary sedatives and other adulterants, that drug suppliers increasingly mix into the illicit fentanyl supply.",
  "key_points": [
    "Study by NIST reveals toxic substances in fentanyl vary across US",
    "Adulterants change over time from 2024 to 2026 in nationwide samples",
    "Veterinary sedatives replace xylazine in eastern US samples"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}