Market assessment for "Detecting and quantifying opioids with a low-cost portable device for use by front line workers"

阿片类药物的流行是加拿大严重的健康危机。问题的一个主要来源是合成芬太尼及其衍生物（如卡芬太尼），它们被混合到海洛因和其他娱乐性药物中。添加到“街头”毒品中的芬太尼数量的变化性和缺乏控制是这种过量使用和死亡流行的主要原因。试图减少这一问题造成的死亡人数的第一道防线是第一响应者（警察、消防员、护理人员、紧急护理人员、加拿大边境服务人员和危险品处理人员）。这些专业人员需要迅速评估情况所构成的危险程度，这既是为了他们的安全，也是为了随后维护公共安全。考虑到芬太尼和卡芬太尼的极端效力，以及它们在药物样品中的非描述性外观（例如未知粉末），第一反应者的安全受到严重关注，他们面临急性阿片类药物中毒的风险。提出了一种新的设备来满足这一需求，这种设备成本低、便携、敏感，并提供包括芬太尼及其衍生物在内的许多药物化合物的定量结果。该市场评估将评估毒品检测市场，以解决产品定位和适合潜在初创企业的商业模式。

The opioid epidemic is a serious health crisis in Canada. A main source of the problem is synthetic fentanyl and its derivatives (e.g. carfentanyl), which are mixed into heroin and other recreational drugs. The variability and lack of control in in the amounts of fentanyl being added to "street" drugs is the primary cause of this epidemic of overdoses and deaths.The first line of attack in an attempt to reduce the number of fatalities resulting from this issue are the first responders (police, fire fighters, paramedics, emergency nursing staff, Canadian Border Services Personnel, and hazmat). These professionals need to quickly assess the level of danger posed by a situation both for their safety and subsequently safeguarding public safety. Given the extreme potency of fentanyl and carfentanyl, and their non-descript appearance in drug samples (e.g. unknown powder), there is significant concern for the safety of first responders, who are at risk of acute opioid intoxication. A new device is proposed that will address this need, one that is low cost, portable, sensitive and provides quantitative results of a number of drug compounds including fentanyl and its derivatives. This market assessment will assess the narcotics detection market to address product positioning and a suitable business model for a potential start-up.