Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means it has a high potential for abuse and is available only through a prescription.
Is it Legal to Buy Fentanyl Online?
Naloxone displaces the opioids from the opioid receptors in the brain which allows the person who is experiencing an opioid overdose to begin breathing normally. Illegal fentanyl has an unknown amount of fentanyl and may contain other substances such as cocaine, heroin, and xylazine (a drug given to animals to help with pain), which put users at higher risk of being poisoned. The sale of drugs on social media apps – and other illegal activity perpetrated on these platforms – is nothing new and has long been on the radar of policymakers. Though they pledge to do better, their solutions have fallen short in protecting users. What parents can doSo, how can parents ensure kids don’t seek out illegal substances — either online or in person — and what signs of potential drug use should parents watch for?
Dose Of Reality: Get The Facts On Opioids
Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of opioids and can reverse an opioid overdose. With a fentanyl overdose, two or more doses of naloxone may need to be administered. Distributors in the US sell counterfeit pills on social media, appealing to a younger, more opioid naïve audience that use social media apps. Opioid naïve individuals are at high risk of accidental overdose because they do not have a tolerance for opioids, may not have access to naloxone, and may not know how to decrease overdose risk. Analysts said an entire new class of synthetic opioids — a family of compounds called benzimidazoles — is now showing up in U.S. drug busts and leading to overdose deaths. The drugs are completely different in chemical structure from fentanyl, but experts warn they can be just as deadly.
No, it is not legal to buy fentanyl online. Online pharmacies that sell controlled substances without a prescription are illegal, and purchasing drugs from them is considered drug trafficking, which is a felony. Additionally, many online pharmacies that sell fentanyl are scams and may sell fake or contaminated drugs.
Fentanyl Test Strips: Where To Get & How To Use?
Can I Get a Prescription for Fentanyl Online?
Where To Buy Fentanyl Test Strips
No, you cannot get a prescription for fentanyl online. Prescriptions for controlled substances must be issued by a licensed physician who has conducted an in-person medical evaluation of the patient. Telemedicine consultations may be used to prescribe fentanyl in certain circumstances, but the prescription must be issued by a licensed physician who is physically present in the same state as the patient.
What are the Risks of Buying Fentanyl Online?
When you use an illegal drug, there’s no guarantee that it contains what the dealer or person who gave it to you says it does. The only way to know if a drug has been contaminated with it is to test it. There are a few ways to test for fentanyl in a drug sample, but the easiest (and only do-it-yourself) option is to use a test strip. Fentanyl test strips aren’t legal everywhere because some states consider them to be drug paraphernalia (items you need to do drugs). But a growing number of health and public policy experts are supporting their use along with other harm-reduction strategies.
Please note that if you do not use drugs frequently or daily, it is not necessary to request more than a couple test strips from free harm reduction programs. In some cases, using meth or coke, especially at higher doses, can lead to another type of overdose called Overamping. Fentanyl burns and becomes inactive at high temperatures when in sustained direct contact with flame. While it is possible for weed to be laced with opioids, it would be an inefficient delivery system for the drug despite this persistent myth. Fentanyl contamination primarily occurs in powders and pressed pills.
There are several risks associated with buying fentanyl online:
- Illegal activity: Purchasing fentanyl online without a prescription is illegal and can result in criminal charges.
- Contaminated or fake drugs: Many online pharmacies that sell fentanyl are scams and may sell fake or contaminated drugs, which can be dangerous or even deadly.
- Overdose: Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid, and even small doses can be lethal. Purchasing fentanyl online increases the risk of overdose, as the potency and purity of the drug are unknown.
- Addiction: Fentanyl is highly addictive, and purchasing it online increases the risk of developing a substance use disorder.
Learn more about responding to suspected drug overdoses on OHA’s Naloxone Rescue for Opioid Overdose webpage (link). Access to the Internet gives even small-time sellers in China transnational reach to market and ship their potent products. Alibaba has since taken down nearly all listings for those four precursors. Potential clients could inspect grainy snapshots of nondescript powders and pills on Facebook.
What Should I Do if I Need Fentanyl?
If you need fentanyl, you should speak with your healthcare provider. They can assess your condition and determine whether fentanyl is appropriate for you. If your healthcare provider determines that fentanyl is necessary, they will write a prescription for the drug, which you can fill at a licensed pharmacy.
- This can be dangerous because individuals often consume fentanyl without knowing it or meaning to, which can result in accidental overdoses or death.
- But if you’re going to use street drugs, testing them for fentanyl first might save your life.
- The algorithmic system that tracks users’ every move uses each click, search, like, and friend request to create a personalized feed for every user.
- In the U.S., meanwhile, more than 40 states have reported spikes in opioid-related deaths this year, according to the American Medical Association.
- Our research shows that it is likely that some Chinese brokers are actively involved in the sale of chemicals on the darknet.
It is important to remember that fentanyl is a highly potent opioid and should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare provider. Misuse of fentanyl can lead to addiction, overdose, and even death. If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, seek help immediately.
