Fentanyl #
| Common Nomenclature | N-(1-phenethyl-4-piperidyl)propionanilide |
| Street & Reference Names | China White; Fent; Sublimaze; Actiq; Duragesic; |
| Reference Dosage | Light 10ug+; Common 25ug+; Strong 50ug+; [Insufflated, TripSit] |
| Anticipated: Onset / Duration | 5 Minutes / 2 Hours |
| Maximum Dose Experienced | N/A |
| Form | Powder |
| RoA | Insufflated |
| Source / Jurisdiction | N/A |
| Personal Rating On Shulgin Scale | N/A |
SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE #
This is the only drug in this book which I didn’t self-administer, largely because of the photograph on the following page and the unreliability of supply.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. First synthesized in 1959, it was approved for medical use in the United States in 1968. Its effects resemble those of other drugs in this class, and are often considered to be particularly close to those of heroin.
It has become synonymous with a huge wave of overdose fatalities, which began to accelerate dramatically from circa 2013.
According to Wikipedia (2023):
“fentanyl and its analogues have been responsible for most drug overdose deaths in the United States, causing over 71,238 deaths in 2021“.
Pharmaceutically a wide range of forms are available, including skin patches, pills and nasal sprays (liquid), although on the street, powder is most commonly used. It should be noted that fentanyl is often used as an adulterant in heroin and other substances, which creates increased risk within the drug eco-system as a whole.
This isn’t one to use in combination with other psychoactives, and frankly, given the current situation, it isn’t one to use at all. Indeed, at the time of writing this edition it is voluntarily banned from the major darknet markets.
Should you proceed with this chemical despite the warnings here, it is suggested that you have naloxone (NARCAN) readily and visibly available, that you use gloves for handling and that you conscientiously adopt all the harm reduction measures, including those specifically listed under the heroin entry.
FATAL DOSE COMPARISON #
If this picture doesn’t paint a thousand words you are not paying attention. In part it explains the wave of opioid related deaths which is currently sweeping the United States. It also surely emphasises why the safety information in this book should be common knowledge, rather than tucked away in the shadows.
Note that the photograph itself comes courtesy of the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency). On contacting them regarding its use, I asked if they would place it into the public domain rather than simply grant permission to reproduce, as this would be more likely to have a positive impact upon public health. Their response was affirmative. Credit where it’s due…