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. However, there are many people who turn to the internet to buy fentanyl illegally.
Is it Safe to Buy Fentanyl Online?
How Can I Be Sure That I’m Buying Real Fentanyl?
No. It is not safe to buy fentanyl online. The illegal sale of fentanyl online is a serious crime that can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment. Additionally, buying fentanyl online from an illegal source can be extremely dangerous. The drug may be contaminated, improperly stored, or even counterfeit. It is also possible to receive a different drug altogether, which can have serious health consequences.
How to Buy Fentanyl Online Safely
If you have a legitimate prescription for fentanyl and are unable to obtain it from a pharmacy, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that you are buying it safely online:
Overdose Prevention
Wisconsin allows residents to pick up free test strips at a designated location. Fentanyl test strips are free for all New Yorkers if they order the test strips through their partner provider. Nevada provides residents with a list of locations where to secure test strips. The National Harm Reduction online Naloxone finding resource also identifies physical locations in a community that offer fentanyl test strips for free. Naloxone blocks the brain’s opioid receptors and restores normal breathing in people who have overdosed on fentanyl, heroin or prescription painkillers.
- Only buy fentanyl from a licensed pharmacy that requires a valid prescription.
- Check the pharmacy’s credentials and ensure that it is licensed in your state.
- Make sure the website is secure and uses encryption to protect your personal and financial information.
- Check the pharmacy’s privacy policy to ensure that your personal information will not be shared with third parties.
- Avoid buying fentanyl from websites that are not affiliated with a licensed pharmacy.
The Denver Police Department has found xylazine mixed with fentanyl in Denver’s drug supply. Because xylazine is not an opioid, naloxone does not reverse its effects. Still, experts always recommend administering naloxone if someone might be suffering from drug overdose. Xylazine causes breathing to slow down or stop (respiratory failure) so giving rescue breaths (one breath very 5 seconds) in between naloxone doses is necessary. People who inject drug mixtures containing xylazine also can develop severe wounds, including necrosis—the rotting of human tissue—that may lead to amputation.
Though they pledge to do better, their solutions have fallen short in protecting users. In the U.S., meanwhile, more than 40 states have reported spikes in opioid-related deaths this year, according to the American Medical Association. Fentanyl, which is up to 100 times stronger than morphine, is a leading cause of overdoses. The result of pressure on China by the U.S. and other countries to take more action against synthetic opioids by expanding their controlled substance bans has show some progress, but law enforcement is hoping for more action. The immunity described above also extends to the person who suffered the emergency drug or alcohol overdose event.
FAQs
Can I buy fentanyl online without a prescription?
Things Everyone Should Know About Fentanyl
No. It is illegal to buy fentanyl online without a valid prescription. Doing so can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment.
Is it safe to buy fentanyl online from an illegal source?
- Fentanyl test strips require dissolving a small amount of the drug supply in water, dipping the test strip into the liquid, and waiting 15 seconds for a result.
- These include, but are not limited to, field-portable gas chromatograph/mass spectrometers, high-pressure mass spectrometers, ion mobility spectrometers, Raman spectrometers, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometers.
- As fentanyl seizures continue to hit historical levels, we anticipate that more lawmakers at the state and federal levels will develop legislation to combat the fentanyl problem.
- § This information sheet contains frequently asked questions, describes harm reduction steps to reduce the risk of fentanyl overdose and includes information about how LA County residents can obtain naloxone.
No. Buying fentanyl online from an illegal source is extremely dangerous. The drug may be contaminated, improperly stored, or even counterfeit. It is also possible to receive a different drug altogether, which can have serious health consequences.
Can I get in trouble for buying fentanyl online?
Yes. Buying fentanyl online from an illegal source is a serious crime that can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment.
What should I do if I suspect that I have been sold counterfeit fentanyl?
If you suspect that you have been sold counterfeit fentanyl, contact your local law enforcement agency immediately. Do not take the drug, and seek medical attention if necessary.
How can I tell if a website is affiliated with a licensed pharmacy?
To determine if a website is affiliated with a licensed pharmacy, look for a seal of approval from a reputable organization such as the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). The NABP operates the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) program, which helps consumers identify legitimate online pharmacies.
