| Summary/Abstract |
The potential use of ‘pharmaceuticals’ has been identified by civilian law enforcement agencies, and counter-terrorism responders, as a threat that fills the gap between physical restraint and lethal weapons. This rise in availability of synthetic opiates reassessment of the overall public health threat from pharmaceutical based agents. The large quantities of illicitly synthetized novel opioids create a significant risk of accidental exposures or, potentially, a major deliberate release, and represents a global health security concern. Here we present a health security risk assessment of PBAs and approaches to threat prevention or mitigation, gaps in research, and medical countermeasure considerations.
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