A 47-year-old Seattle man who had been visiting Oregon on business became the first recorded case of brain disease as a result of fentanyl inhalation. Although the incident happened in February 2023, the report of toxic leukoencephalopathy (disease of white brain matter) was just published in BMJ Case Reports.
Reports Due to Heroin Inhalation, but Not Fentanyl
On Feb. 25, 2023, the man was found unresponsive in his hotel room. While he had no known previous medical issues, the man had been unconscious for an unknown period before he was found. He was discovered close to unidentified crushed pills and white residue on a nearby table.When he arrived at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) emergency department, he could not follow commands or answer questions. He could respond to pain stimuli in his legs but not his arms.
