Urine Drug Testing Data Can Provide Timely Estimates of Overdose Death, JAMA Network Open Study Shows

Millennium Health, Ohio State University researchers say drug test data could “close the gap” in the timeliness of reporting overdose mortality

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – June 9, 2025 – The availability of overdose mortality data generally lags by up to 6 months, hindering public health efforts to address the crisis in the present. A study published in JAMA Network Open, co-authored by researchers at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Millennium Health (MH), demonstrates that aggregated urine drug testing data can be used to estimate timely overdose death trends, presenting an opportunity to “close the gap” in reporting recent overdose mortality trends. Read More

New Study Reveals Unprecedented Increases in Fentanyl and Stimulant Concentrations in Urine Drug Test Results

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – October 24, 2024 – A study published in JAMA Network Open, led by Andrew Huhn, PhD, MBA, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Kelly Dunn, PhD, MBA, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and co-authored by Millennium Health researchers, illustrates striking increases in the amounts of illicit fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine detected in urine drug testing (UDT) specimens since 2013. The analysis showed that the concentrations of fentanyl and methamphetamine were 8.3 and 5.2 times higher, respectively, in 2023 compared to 2013 (Figure). Cocaine concentrations also doubled across this time period, whereas those for heroin fell by more than half.Read More

Millennium Health Signals Alert™ Shows Carfentanil Extends Deadly Reach

New report identifies concerning uptick in detections of the lethal fentanyl analogue across the U.S. since reemerging in 2023

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – September 24, 2024 – Carfentanil was detected 134 times in urine drug test (UDT) results in 21 states from July 2023 to June 2024 (see Map) compared to only 11 times in six states during the preceding three years.Read More

Xylazine Spreads West According to New Millennium Health Signals Alert™

Urine drug test (UDT) data indicate significant uptick in xylazine use in the West, remains deeply entrenched in the East

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – July 16, 2024 – According to the Millennium Health Signals Alert released today, xylazine use among those who use fentanyl grew substantially in the West in the year after the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) designated fentanyl adulterated with xylazine an emerging threat. At the same time, xylazine use also grew in New England, further tightening its grip on the Eastern U.S. where rates of use are approximately double the national rate of 15.6%.Read More

Methamphetamine Use in Arizona Reaches All-Time High in People Who Use Fentanyl, Adding Fuel to the Fentanyl Crisis

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – April 3, 2024 – Coming off the heels of the recent $850 million in funding secured to prevent fentanyl from entering Arizona as the state continues to grapple with this ongoing crisis, a dangerous trend in the co-use of methamphetamine has emerged that may significantly impact an already challenging situation. Read More