Published: 06/19/2026 | Author: Courtney Myers

Folks living with opioid addiction face a danger many never expected, that of lethal fungal infections inside the same needles used to deliver their doses. A new university study based in Ohio has found that the illicit drug supply fueling the opioid crisis had contaminates far more than narcotics.

Residents out in Ohio have a wide variety of programs to combat substance misuse. From small Narcotics Anonymous chapters to large and modern inpatient care centers, The Buckeye State can help folks no matter their background. However, new developments like fungi complicate treatment programs for many.

The Opioid Crisis Across the County

Researchers at Bowling Green State University worked with the Toledo Lucas County Health Department to analyze used hypodermic needles collected through a local needle exchange program. 

The results took them by surprise. The average needle tested contained eight different compounds. Even worse, 86% of the needles carried xylazine. This is a powerful veterinary tranquilizer increasingly mixed into street drugs. The team also discovered a dangerous fungal pathogen called Candida in the used needles. 

The findings arrive against a grim national backdrop. More than 100,000 Americans have died annually since 2021 from intravenous drug use. Furthermore, fungal infections already claim roughly two million lives worldwide each year and climbing.

Driving the Trend

With reports of new synthetic drugs in the streets, the study initially set out to answer a basic question: what is actually in the drug supply driving narcotic addiction in northwest Ohio? Lead researcher Dr. Hans Wildschutte originally expected to find bacteria in the samples, not a fungus capable of life-threatening bloodstream infections. 

Coming into contact with Candida can lead to serious illness. Doctoral student Nara Souza noted that fungal infections are especially hard to treat because antifungal medications are limited or toxic. Diagnostic testing also takes longer than it does for bacterial infections. 

In an unexpected twist, the team also identified a soil-based bacterium called Pseudomonas that killed Candida in lab testing. This discovery can open a new path toward antifungal drug development for people affected by intravenous drug use.

Fentanyl’s Role in the Opioid Crisis

Opioids are a class of narcotic drugs, including heroin and prescription painkillers, that bind to receptors in the brain to relieve pain and produce euphoria. Fentanyl especially remains the single biggest driver of overdose deaths nationwide. But this study underscores how the broader opioid crisis has evolved beyond fentanyl alone. 

Xylazine is often called “tranq” and doesn’t respond to naloxone the way opioids do. This means a person who has used fentanyl or other narcotics cut with xylazine may need additional medical support during an overdose. The researchers also witnessed the presence of multiple unknown compounds in a single dose. These polysubstance doses make opioid abuse increasingly unpredictable and dangerous, even for people who believe they know what they are using.

Harm Reduction and Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Public health experts continue to emphasize harm reduction alongside long-term treatment. Naloxone access, fentanyl test strips and needle exchange programs like the one that made this research possible all reduce immediate health risks for people who use drugs. 

An opioid overdose slows or stops breathing, but naloxone can rapidly reverse those effects if administered in time.

Medication-assisted treatment remains among the most effective tools for treating opioid use disorder. 

Peer support through Narcotics Anonymous and other NA meetings also plays a critical role in long-term recovery, giving folks struggling with narcotic addiction a community of others who understand the path forward.

Help for Opioid Addiction

Intravenous drug use takes place across the country. For those impacted, enrolling in NA is often the first step. Meet your peers in your community and form fellowships that last a lifetime. Browse our listings for NA chapters anywhere in the country or call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) for opioid addiction treatment options.