In recent years, there has been a growing trend of people buying drugs online, including the highly potent and dangerous opioid, fentanyl. While it may seem like an easy and convenient way to obtain these substances, it is essential to understand the risks and consequences associated with buying fentanyl online.
What is Fentanyl?
Drug Checking Resources
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. It is often used to treat severe pain, such as that experienced by cancer patients. However, due to its high potency, it is also a popular drug of abuse and is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, to increase their potency.
(The Senate investigators did not actually make any purchases.) Or, these so-called “clearnet” sites lead to arrests. The drug user in Texas said he first began using opioids when a doctor prescribed him hydrocodone for a bad cough he had as a teenager. He progressed to prescription painkillers, and then, when they became too expensive, to heroin. According to the report, most of this fentanyl originates in China. China has cracked down on fentanyl and some of its subtypes, or analogues, but the online dealers often tweak the formulas of their drugs slightly to stay ahead of bans. For example, when China announced it would ban one fentanyl product, called U-47700, on July 1, one fentanyl dealer advertised a “hot sale” of the product through June.
Can You Buy Fentanyl Online?
What Should You Ask Your Health Care Professional Before Taking Opioids?
The number of overdose deaths in the U.S. from synthetic opioids doubled from 2016 to 2017. In 2018, 744 people from Washington died from an opioid related overdose and 198 of these deaths included fentanyl. Data for this study were collected as part of a larger study focused on fentanyl contamination of drugs from the social media site, Reddit.com. Reddit is a collection of topical social forums (“subreddits”) with content generated by pseudonymously registered users, referred to as Redditors.
The short answer is yes, you can buy fentanyl online. However, doing so is illegal and carries significant risks. Many websites that sell fentanyl online are based in other countries and operate outside of US laws. This means that there is no way to know what you are actually getting when you order from these sites, and the drugs may be contaminated with other substances, such as rat poison or other dangerous chemicals.
Risks of Buying Fentanyl Online
Will They Save My Loved One’s Life?
There are many risks associated with buying fentanyl online, including:
- Overdose: Fentanyl is incredibly potent, and even a small amount can cause an overdose. When you buy fentanyl online, there is no way to know exactly how much you are getting, which increases the risk of overdose.
- Contamination: The drugs sold on these websites may be contaminated with other substances, such as rat poison or other dangerous chemicals, which can cause serious harm or even death.
- Legal Consequences: Buying fentanyl online is illegal and can result in serious legal consequences, including arrest and imprisonment.
FAQs
What Is An Opioid?
Is it safe to buy fentanyl online? No, it is not safe to buy fentanyl online. The drugs sold on these websites may be contaminated with other substances, and there is no way to know exactly how much fentanyl you are getting, which increases the risk of overdose.
The County of Ventura Behavioral Health has a Strategic Plan in place, and a division dedicated solely to Prevention. Our Prevention efforts are numerous, including outreach teams that are present in the community at health fairs and events throughout the year, distributing information about resources and naloxone kits. The strategic plan can be found at /VCBH_Strategic_Plan_At-A-Glance-English.pdf.
Is buying fentanyl online illegal? Yes, buying fentanyl online is illegal and can result in serious legal consequences, including arrest and imprisonment.
- There are hurdles, including international treaties and the readiness or willingness of other countries to implement the same standards.
- This medication is not just for people with an opioid dependence or addiction.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Cronin told us that Gordon Jin would often slip fentanyl past U.S.
- Other items indicating use may be needles, small mirrors, scales, blotterpaper, unlabelled candies, blue M-30 pills, Xanax “bars”, or other pills/tablets/capsules.
What should I do if I or someone I know has overdosed on fentanyl? If you or someone you know has overdosed on fentanyl, seek medical attention immediately. Naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, may be administered by first responders or in the emergency room.
Those examples were on the standard web, there are additional portals to buy these products on the dark web, where traffic is much harder to track and trace. Our 2016 report, Anonymity Overdose, charted the connection between the opioid epidemic and the problem of anonymous shell companies. One such individual was a 49-year-old Ohioan who sent roughly $2,500 to an online seller over the course of 10 months—from May 2016 to February 2017.
Conclusion
While it may be tempting to buy fentanyl online, the risks and consequences associated with doing so are significant. Not only is it illegal, but the drugs sold on these websites may be contaminated with other substances, and there is no way to know exactly how much fentanyl you are getting, which increases the risk of overdose. If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, seek professional help immediately.
