Story perspectives

LA Users Consume 8,887 MME Daily, Hindering Treatment

6/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

UCLA researchers Chelsea Shover and Morgan Godvin found daily fentanyl exposure in Los Angeles equals 8,887 MME per person.
The analysis used purity data from 500 samples collected Sep 2023–Jan 2026 and surveys of 47 users.
Users ingest about 60 times the 2 mg lethal dose, equal to over 1,200 100 µg fentanyl vials or 440 Percocet pills daily.
Researchers said this exposure creates tolerance that hampers initiation and retention on methadone or buprenorphine treatment.

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Story summary

UCLA researchers Chelsea Shover and Morgan Godvin found daily fentanyl exposure in Los Angeles equals 8,887 MME per person.
The analysis used purity data from 500 samples collected Sep 2023–Jan 2026 and surveys of 47 users.
Users ingest about 60 times the 2 mg lethal dose, equal to over 1,200 100 µg fentanyl vials or 440 Percocet pills daily.
Researchers said this exposure creates tolerance that hampers initiation and retention on methadone or buprenorphine treatment.