Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is used to treat severe pain, often in patients who are already taking other opioids. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and can be highly addictive. With the rise of the opioid epidemic, many people are wondering, “Can you buy fentanyl?” The answer is no, you cannot legally buy fentanyl without a prescription from a licensed medical professional.
The Dangers of Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a highly dangerous drug that can cause serious harm or even death when used improperly. It is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, to increase their potency. This can lead to accidental overdoses, as users may not be aware of the presence of fentanyl in the drug they are taking. In addition, fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled, making it easy to overdose accidentally.
Fentanyl Overdose Symptoms
Even if you’ve used them before, the information on this page is still important. Fentanyl test strips aren’t perfect, but most people find them easy to use. The best way to use them is to dissolve all the drugs you plan to use in water. Fentanyl might not be everywhere evenly in your product, so if you only test a portion of your supply you might end up missing it.
- Slowed or stopped breathing
- Dizziness or confusion
- Extreme drowsiness or unconsciousness
- Bluish lips or fingertips
Legal Status of Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a Schedule II controlled substance in the United States, which means that it has a high potential for abuse and is only available with a prescription. It is illegal to possess or distribute fentanyl without a valid prescription. Penalties for possession or distribution of fentanyl can be severe, including fines, imprisonment, or both.
Penalties for Fentanyl Possession or Distribution
Where To Buy Fentanyl Test Strips?
- First-time offenders can face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.
- Repeat offenders can face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
- Trafficking or distributing fentanyl can result in even harsher penalties, including up to life in prison and fines of up to $1 million.
While there are advocacy efforts underway to legalize test strips in all states, at present, it’s best to check out the laws in the state where a loved one resides. Test strips are convenient and easy to use, taking just a few minutes to get results. Learn how to respond in the event of an overdose and support a loved one in crisis. If you choose to use fentanyl, there are some practices that can help you minimize the risk of an overdose. Here are a few recommendations so you can be in control of your experience. To learn more about your new benefits, your welcome packet, and what to do if you have an urgent health care issue please visit the New to Oregon Health Plan​ web page​.
FAQs
Can you buy fentanyl online?
No. It is illegal to buy or sell fentanyl online without a valid prescription. Online pharmacies that claim to sell fentanyl without a prescription are operating illegally and may be selling counterfeit or contaminated drugs.
Is it safe to use fentanyl?
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No. Fentanyl is a highly dangerous drug that can cause serious harm or even death when used improperly. It should only be used under the supervision of a licensed medical professional.
What should I do if I suspect someone has overdosed on fentanyl?
Fentanyl test strips aren’t legal everywhere because some states consider them to be drug paraphernalia (items you need to do drugs). But a growing number of health and public policy experts are supporting their use along with other harm-reduction strategies. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid related to the phenylpiperidines that is commonly used for moderate to severe pain relief. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we had more people in the Bay Area die from fentanyl than COVID-19, so fentanyl overdoses are really impacting our community.
JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A RISK DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO BE AT RISK THERE ARE WAYS TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE
Call 911 immediately and provide as much information as possible about the person’s symptoms and the drugs they may have taken. Naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, may be administered by first responders or medical professionals.
In certain neighborhoods, there are people who do not think of Percocet or Oxycodone pills as an opiate. If you decide to use the drugs after testing them, you can drink them or inject them. Or you can get the powder back by letting the water evaporate. You can speed up the process by putting the dissolved drugs in a pan in the oven on the lowest setting (maximum of 225 F) while keeping the oven door cracked.
Can fentanyl be detected in a drug test?
- Harm reduction experts also recommend rolling the person who has overdosed onto their side with their top knee bent, in the recovery position.
- We expanded the age and drug use eligibility criteria created based on our recent research of the fentanyl overdose epidemic in Rhode Island [19].
- Learn more about physicians’ actions toward ending the nation’s drug-related overdose and death epidemic—and what still needs to be done.
- Third, we only assessed lifetime overdose history generally and did not ask participants about their experiences with opioid overdose specifically.
- The Denver Police Department has found xylazine mixed with fentanyl in Denver’s drug supply.
- The Center offers a number of weekly ‘Living with HIV’ groups facilitated by mental health professionals from The Center’s Behavioral Health Services, as well as peer-to-peer led groups.
In 2020, 1,580 New Yorkers died from a fentanyl-involved overdose. Other strategies to prevent overdose deaths include lowering the entry barrier to addiction treatment, fentanyl test strips, supervised consumption sites and even prescription diamorphine (heroin). Physicians like me have seen a rise in unintentional fentanyl use from people buying prescription opioids and other drugs laced, or adulterated, with fentanyl. Heroin users in my community in Massachusetts came to realize that fentanyl had entered the drug supply when overdose numbers exploded. In 2016, my colleagues and I found that patients who came to the emergency department reporting a heroin overdose often only had fentanyl present in their drug test results.
Yes, fentanyl can be detected in a drug test. However, the length of time it can be detected depends on several factors, including the type of drug test used, the amount of fentanyl taken, and the individual’s metabolism.
Conclusion
Fentanyl is a highly dangerous drug that should only be used under the supervision of a licensed medical professional. It is illegal to buy or sell fentanyl without a valid prescription, and penalties for possession or distribution can be severe. If you suspect someone has overdosed on fentanyl, call 911 immediately. Always consult with a healthcare professional before using any medication, including fentanyl.
