Signs & Symptoms Of An Opioid Overdose:
Understanding the Risks of Buying Fentanyl Online
Syringe service programs provide support, information, naloxone, and other harm reduction supplies to people who use drugs, including people who take pills, smoke, inject, and more. Please contact your local public health authority (link) to learn more about services nearest to you. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl has been prevalent in the northeastern region of the US since 2017, but it did not become prevalent in Oregon until 2019. Since then, law enforcement seizures of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl have grown dramatically in Oregon. The amount of seized fentanyl in Oregon’s high intensity drug trafficking areas (HIDTA) increased from 690 dosage units (counterfeit pills) in 2018 to more than 2 million in 2022.
10 grams of fentanyl is estimated to provide the same dose as 1 kilogram of heroin that carries an estimated street value of $160,00 dollars. Compared to the $1390 that a dealer would pay for the same impact from fentanyl, it is easy to see why this highly potent chemical compound is so popular. If you are around people or situations where an opioid overdose may occur, such as someone in your family uses opioids, you can become trained on how to administer it and have some on hand in case there is an overdose. Free naloxone nasal spray is being provided to individuals in the community and first responders to help combat the opioid crisis and reverse overdose deaths. Because of the War on Drugs and criminalization of people who use drugs, people often are unaware of the exact composition of the substances they’re using.
In recent years, the question of where can I buy fentanyl online has gained significant traction, particularly due to the risks associated with obtaining this potent substance through illegal means.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. While it has legitimate medical uses, its misuse has led to a public health crisis.
The underlying message of the report was that the US Postal Service should do more to crack down on these illicit shipments. Right now, private carriers are required to collect advanced electronic data, a bar code with information about the sender, the recipient, and what is in the package. That’s precisely why sellers prefer the US Postal Service over FedEx or UPS. Because fentanyl and other synthetics are so much stronger, they take up a lot less space and can be much more easily hidden in other products.
Reasons People Seek Fentanyl Online
Individuals may seek fentanyl online for various reasons, including:
- Chronic pain management
- Accessibility issues with legitimate prescriptions
- Misconceptions about its safety when bought online
It is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous. More than 80% of listings advertising novel synthetic opioids on DreamMarket (with the exceptions of pharmaceutical fentanyl, butyrfentanyl, and U-49,900) could be shipped to the United States (Table 2). AP-237 was identified by NMS labs in September 2019 (NMS Labs, 2019b). Our data indicate consistent availability of a wide variety of novel synthetic opioids both in retail and wholesale-level amounts. Identification of new substances highlights the value of cryptomarket data for early warning systems of emerging substance use trends. The United States is facing a “triple wave” epidemic fueled by novel synthetic opioids.
Please see our republishing guidelines for use of any other photos and graphics. “We have sources trying to give us 20,000 pills when we only want to actually buy 1,000,” said Schultz, who works undercover, in an email to the Standard. Fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that were originally created to detect fentanyl in urine. But you can also use them to see whether a drug contains fentanyl in just a few minutes.
It encompasses all private data accessible via the Internet and represents approximately 96% of the total web. Over 60% of the listings on cryptomarket are dedicated to pharmaceutical and/or illicitly produced psychoactive substances (i.e., pharmaceuticals, drug-related chemicals or illicit drugs) (Europol, 2017). Fentanyl is sometimes added to drugs to increase a person’s high and can be disguised as heroin, cocaine, meth, marijuana, and counterfeit (fake) prescription pills. As a result, many people believe that they are purchasing a certain drug and do not know that they are buying fentanyl – which often results in overdose deaths. A dose as small as 1-2 grains (2mg) of salt can cause a fatal overdose.
Though algorithms were born out of platforms attempting to produce a list of recommended items to help users make decisions on content, it has arguably become much more complicated than just a short, tailored menu. For every click or search a user makes on their own, the algorithm spits back out recommended content based on assumptions of what other content is likely to entice the user to stay engaged. In this way, these algorithms are not designed to satisfy the user’s search; they are designed to keep users searching for more. And after multiple clicks or searches, the line between what a user was searching for and what content the algorithm is pushing can quickly become blurred. Another Chinese website, Mfrbee.com, had dozens of listings under the search term “opioids”, although links to fentanyl appeared to be blocked.
It is often mixed with heroin and/or cocaine to increase its euphoric effects. The risk of overdose exists when any fentanyl is present given its potency and lethality, but risk is especially high among persons who are not tolerant to it and may not be aware of the presence of fentanyl in what they are using. The toll of drug abuse and overdoses extends far wider than deaths, which in 2019 reached nearly 50,000.
Legitimate Sources vs. Illegal Marketplaces
It’s crucial to differentiate between where you can find fentanyl legally and where it is sold on the black market.
Legal sources include:
- Research has shown the distribution and use of fentanyl test distribution to be an effective intervention against fentanyl overdose.
- Nearly 71,000 drug overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids other than methadone in 2021.
- This is a public version of a sensitive report GAO issued in April 2021.
- If someone is unconscious or has any of these signs, administer naloxone and call 911 immediately.
- In Philadelphia, there are a few ways to get naloxone and test strips and learn to use them.
- Licensed pharmacies with a valid prescription
- Hospitals under a doctor’s supervision
Illegal sources include:
- Dark web marketplaces
- Unregulated websites
Why Buying Fentanyl Online is Dangerous
Purchasing fentanyl from unverified online sources poses significant risks including:
- High probability of receiving counterfeit products
- Inconsistent dosing leading to overdose
- Legal consequences for possession of illegal substances
- Increased risk of addiction and dependence
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to buy fentanyl online?
No, buying fentanyl online can be extremely dangerous due to the potential for counterfeit drugs and legal consequences.
What are the signs of fentanyl overdose?
Signs include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Extreme drowsiness
- Pinpoint pupils
- Loss of consciousness
How can I access fentanyl safely?
The safest way to access fentanyl is through a healthcare provider who can prescribe it legally for legitimate medical reasons.
Conclusion
The inquiry of where can I buy fentanyl online highlights the need for awareness regarding the risks associated with purchasing drugs illegally. The dangers far outweigh any potential benefits. It’s essential to prioritize health and safety by seeking medical advice from professionals rather than exploring online options.