Why are drug dealers putting fentanyl in everything?

[mattkime]

Isn't it bad business to kill your own customers? - https://pjvogt.substack.com/p/why-are-dr...g-fentanyl

Interview with a former dealer - https://pjvogt.substack.com/p/why-are-dr...ntanyl-97a

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For all thats written about the opioid epidemic, very little of it really even scratches the surface. This is a lot more in depth than anything I've come across.

[Racer X]

because people who manufacturer and distribute street drugs aren't known for being moral or ethical? :bat:

Thanks, I'll listen to both parts tonight. Lots of chronic pain in the family, both household and extended.

I did read about research where in a lab, biochemists found a radical group they could flip that didn't interact with the bodies receptor that triggered addiction. The recptors that allow it to alleviate pain are untouched. Works with fentanyl, which is safe in low doses/concentration. No clue at all how it might pan out.

[Tiangou]

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/fentanyl-d...d=96827602

Done correctly, lacing illicit drugs with fentanyl often creates a return stream of customers because fentanyl is considered highly addictive. This is why fentanyl is often found in drugs like cocaine, counterfeit Xanax, counterfeit Adderall, or other drugs not classified as opioids.

“Fentanyl is good for business if you layer addiction into it...”

Fentanyl is a cheap alternative to other opioids...

Because a smaller dose has a similar effect relative to other opioids, it is also easier to smuggle...

Overdose deaths usually lead to investigation by law enforcement, which is bad for business and can often result in the dealer's arrest. However, the drug is so profitable that it's worth the risk.

[vision63]

Yes. It's a cheap substrate. More profits.

[pdq]

It’s an opioid, oxy is an opioid, heroin is an opioid.

All are addictive. Fentanyl is the most potent of those by far, so less drug goes farther.

In other words, it’s cheaper to make an amount that tickles those opioid receptors (and easier to conceal, I suppose).

[ztirffritz]

I have a friend who is unable to metabolize opioids, or she lacks the receptor to make use of them. I'm not sure exactly what the mechanism is. At any rate, they have no effect on her. She's a cancer survivor who was paralyzed from the waist down for a while because of the cancer. I believe that was when they realized she couldn't use opioids at all. They did nothing to her. Maybe if they could replicate what's wrong with her, they could help addicts break the habit. I understand there's much more to opioid addiction than just the high. It includes a lifestyle, social circle, all kinds of complications...but if the desire for the drug can be broken or reduced maybe the physical addiction can be weaned.

https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/...ensitivity

[RAMd®d]

Why are drug dealers putting fentanyl in everything?


Because:

Done correctly, lacing illicit drugs with fentanyl often creates a return stream of customers because fentanyl is considered highly addictive. This is why fentanyl is often found in drugs like cocaine, counterfeit Xanax, counterfeit Adderall, or other drugs not classified as opioids.

This, making one's 'product' more attractive and often necessary to the user.

The other characteristics are a perk.

But not for the powerful addiction potential, it wouldn't be found in so many 'recreational' drugs.

So it one isn't careful...

And many aren't, assuming no deliberate intent.

[Racer X]

pdq wrote:
It’s an opioid, oxy is an opioid, heroin is an opioid.

All are addictive. Fentanyl is the most potent of those by far, so less drug goes farther.

In other words, it’s cheaper to make an amount that tickles those opioid receptors (and easier to conceal, I suppose).

actually, carfentanyl is quite a bit stronger. They use it on big animals, but drugs get cut with it too.

[Racer X]

ztirffritz wrote:
I have a friend who is unable to metabolize opioids, or she lacks the receptor to make use of them. I'm not sure exactly what the mechanism is. At any rate, they have no effect on her. She's a cancer survivor who was paralyzed from the waist down for a while because of the cancer. I believe that was when they realized she couldn't use opioids at all. They did nothing to her. Maybe if they could replicate what's wrong with her, they could help addicts break the habit. I understand there's much more to opioid addiction than just the high. It includes a lifestyle, social circle, all kinds of complications...but if the desire for the drug can be broken or reduced maybe the physical addiction can be weaned.

https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/...ensitivity

yeah, for some reason, fentanyl and tramadol don't work on my wife, but oxy and hydro do. :dunno: there are subtle differences.

[pdq]

Smote wrote:
[quote=pdq]
It’s an opioid, oxy is an opioid, heroin is an opioid.

All are addictive. Fentanyl is the most potent of those by far, so less drug goes farther.

In other words, it’s cheaper to make an amount that tickles those opioid receptors (and easier to conceal, I suppose).

actually, carfentanyl is quite a bit stronger. They use it on big animals, but drugs get cut with it too.
This is true; I was saying fentanyl is the most powerful of those three by far. There are, as you point out, several even more potent analogues, like carfentanyl. But that's also realllly dangerous. Like, get-it-on-your-skin-and-die dangerous. You may know that the Russians are believed to have killed a number of Chechen rebels (and a good number of their Russian hostages) just by piping aerosolized carfentanyl into the ductwork of the theater they were in.