Commentary on Grischott et al. (2019): Is the rising incidence of pulmonary disease among opioid‐dependent patients an unintended consequence of inhalation of toxic substances?

Since the 1990s, there has been a shift from intravenous to inhaled use of illicit substances alongside a harm- minimisation policy change to promote ‘safer’ inhaled use. Interventions to legitimise the switch are of interest and may be linked to incident respiratory disease, a consequence which must now be addressed.