Controversial Tool Emerges In Opioid Fight: Fentanyl Test Strips
Understanding Fentanyl and its Availability
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is used medically for pain management but has also become a significant concern due to its potential for abuse and overdose. With the rising opioid crisis, many people wonder where do you buy fentanyl.
No relationship is created with you, nor any duty of care assumed to you, when you use this blog. The blog is not a substitute for obtaining any legal, financial or any other form of professional advice from a suitably qualified and licensed advisor. The information on this blog may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, accurate, correct or up-to-date. Elliptic has amassed a comprehensive dataset of crypto wallets used by fentanyl dealers to facilitate this deadly trade. Our blockchain analytics engine Nexus can be used to trace the on-chain activities of these dealers – including money laundering or dark web activity. The Elliptic Investigator graphs shown above underscore these capabilities – allowing any associations between dark web markets or vendors with fentanyl suppliers to be unearthed with ease.
Medical Use of Fentanyl
If you live in King County you may be able to order free fentanyl test strips through an online order form. Take the same steps as you would with any suspected opioid overdose. Fentanyl overdose often comes on much faster and stronger than a typical opioid overdose. In some cases, a person’s chest may become very stiff (called “chest wall rigidity” or “wooden chest”). This can make it harder for the victim to breathe and for a responder to do chest compressions. In San Francisco, they’re known as “commuter drug dealers” due to the fact that they tend to stay in the cheaper East Bay and take the BART downtown.
Before discussing where do you buy fentanyl, it is essential to understand its legal medical use:
City, county and state officials have failed, despite years of discussions, to open a replacement. Ternan and his wife, Mary, created Song for Charlie after their youngest son died in May 2020. He took a black-market pill he thought was the prescription painkiller Percocet, but in fact was made with fentanyl. “These fake pills are everywhere, to the point that if you get a pill online or anywhere that didn’t come directly from your doctor, you pretty much can assume that it’s counterfeit. And if it’s counterfeit, it’s made with fentanyl,” Ternan said. Ed Ternan, co-founder of Song For Charlie, said counterfeit pills are a huge problem that most people don’t know exists.
The mortality rates from fentanyl consumption and increasing enforcement actions against dealers have even spooked many cybercriminals into steering clear from facilitating its trade. Dark web drugs market operators and vendors are aware of the increased law enforcement scrutiny and seizure efforts that arise from stocking fentanyl – resulting in many banning them outright. Nearly two-thirds of people who use drugs surveyed for this project had experienced an opioid overdose at least once, and 8 in 10 attributed their last overdose to fentanyl. While California has made some positive strides in the fight against opioids (the latest data show that prescriptions in the state are down), deaths from one particularly powerful opioid, fentanyl, are up. As fentanyl floods the illicit drug market, the price for a pill has dropped substantially in the past few years.
Counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets containing fentanyl kill thousands of people every year, and they can look exactly like the real ones. There is no way to know whether illicitly-purchased pharmaceuticals contain fentanyl without testing them first. Crush the substance that you wish to test finely on a clean surface. Empty the bag and put your drugs aside in another container or clean surface. There should be enough residue in the bag to perform the test.
- Prescription Only: Fentanyl is available through prescriptions in the form of patches, lozenges, and injectable solutions.
- Hospitals and Clinics: Medically administered in controlled environments for patients with severe pain, particularly post-surgery or for terminal conditions.
- Controlled Substances: Due to its potential for addiction and overdose, fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance.
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) is a synthetic opioid that can be up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. The potency and contents of illicit drugs, including IMF, is always changing. This makes it impossible for someone to know the strength or the mixture of substances in their drug product. IMF is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the US, including Oregon. It is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
The fentanyl test strips given away were packaged into kits including 10 strips, each with instructions on how to use them, a pocket-sized set of instructions with pictures, and information on fentanyl. The kits also included a NEXT Distro card, which is a mail-based program where people can receive free Narcan and fentanyl test strips. 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. Mark was also worried about his probation status if another urinalysis screened positive for fentanyl. This is not all the information you need to know about fentanyl test strips for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your healthcare provider’s advice.
Illicit Sources of Fentanyl
Finding answers to where do you buy fentanyl can lead to dangerous and illegal avenues:
- Dark Web: Some individuals attempt to acquire fentanyl through illicit online marketplaces that operate anonymously.
- Street Dealers: In many cities, fentanyl may be found through illegal drug trade, often mixed with other street drugs.
- Fake Prescriptions: Some may resort to obtaining fentanyl using forged prescriptions from doctors or through illegal pharmacy practices.
Risks Associated with Buying Fentanyl
Purchasing fentanyl from non-medical sources poses significant risks:
- Overdose Potential: Fentanyl is extremely potent, and even a small dosage can lead to fatal overdoses.
- Contaminated Products: Illegally obtained fentanyl may be mixed with other harmful substances, leading to unintentional harm.
- Legal Consequences: Buying or selling fentanyl illegally can result in severe legal penalties.
Legal Alternatives and Support
- My hope is the test strips could become even more available so that someone could go to a drugstore, pharmacy, or convenience store and be able to purchase them.
- In 2019, there were four overdose deaths involving xylazine, in 2020 there were eight deaths, and in 2021 there were 24 deaths.
- Since it is so much stronger, only a very small amount, such as a few grains, can be lethal.
- It started with the overprescribing of prescription pain relievers.
If you or someone you know is seeking fentanyl for legitimate medical reasons, consider:
- Consulting a Healthcare Provider: Only a qualified healthcare professional can evaluate the need for fentanyl and provide a legal prescription.
- Exploring Treatment Options: For those struggling with substance use, there are many resources and treatment programs available to provide support.
FAQs
Q: What is fentanyl used for?
A: Fentanyl is mainly used to treat severe pain, especially in cases of cancer or after surgery.
Q: Is it safe to use fentanyl if prescribed?
A: Yes, when prescribed and monitored by a healthcare provider, fentanyl can be safe, though it carries risks of dependence and overdose.
Q: What should I do if I suspect someone has overdosed on fentanyl?
A: Call emergency services immediately. Narcan (naloxone) can reverse opioid overdoses and should be administered if available.
Q: Can I legally purchase fentanyl online?
A: It is illegal to purchase fentanyl without a prescription, and buying it from unauthorized sources is highly dangerous.
In conclusion, understanding where do you buy fentanyl involves recognizing the legal avenues through medical prescriptions and the significant dangers associated with illegal sources. Awareness and education can aid in preventing the misuse of such a potent substance.
