While many efforts have focused on combatting the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania and at the national level, alarming trends have emerged related to the supply and use of prescription and illicit psychostimulants. The many differences between opioid use disorder (OUD) and methamphetamine or cocaine use disorder pose challenges for public safety, public health, prevention, treatment and harm reduction professions.

With novel substances, drug mixtures, and concurrent use of psychostimulants and opioids, enhanced knowledge is required for recognizing and assisting overdose victims and persons in crisis. Both public health and public safety professionals require additional training and information to better respond to psychostimulant overdose victims, and treatment professionals require additional tools to effectively treat patients who misuse or abuse psychostimulants. Strategies essential for detecting surges in psychostimulant supply and consumption can aid policymakers and agency leaders in directing resources where most needed.