Urine Drug Test Concentrations Up for Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Cocaine
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2024 -- Absolute concentrations of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in urine specimens increased from 2013 to 2023, according to a study published online Oct. 24 in JAMA Network Open.
Andrew S. Huhn, Ph.D., from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues analyzed urine drug testing (UDT) results to quantify changes in absolute drug exposure concentrations from 2013 to 2023. The analysis included 921,931 unique UDT samples.
The researchers found that the adjusted fentanyl concentration in urine specimens was 38.23 ng/mg creatinine in 2023, up from 4.61 ng/mg in 2013. The adjusted methamphetamine concentration was 3,461.59 ng/mg creatinine in 2023, up from 665.27 ng/mg in 2013. The adjusted cocaine concentration was 1,122.23 ng/mg creatinine in 2023, up from 559.71 ng/mg in 2013. The adjusted heroin concentration was 58.36 ng/mg creatinine in 2023, down from 146.59 ng/mg in 2013. There was variation in drug concentrations across U.S. Census divisions.
"The findings suggest that exposure to these substances, as well as the illicit drug supply, has fundamentally changed in many parts of the United States, highlighting the need to reinforce surveillance initiatives and accelerate efforts to treat individuals with illicitly manufactured fentanyl and/or stimulant exposure," the authors write.
Two authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted October 2024
Read this next
Urinary Metal Levels Tied to Increased Risk for Later Heart Failure
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- There are consistent associations between elevated urinary metal levels and increased heart failure risk over time across geographically diverse cohorts...
Higher Temperatures Tied to Increased Probability of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- Higher temperatures across the globe are associated with an increased probability of having obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a study published...
Tons of Turkey Bacon Products Recalled Due to Possible Listeria Contamination
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 — Kraft Heinz Foods is recalling some 370,000 pounds of fully cooked turkey bacon products that may be contaminated with listeria, the U.S...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.