Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its role in the opioid crisis. While it is legally prescribed for severe pain management, there is a dark side to this powerful drug. Illicit fentanyl has flooded the streets, leading to countless overdoses and deaths. With the rise of the internet, it is now possible to buy fentanyl online, but at what cost?
The Dark Web: A Hidden Marketplace
The online world has given rise to an anonymous and unregulated space known as the Dark Web. This part of the internet cannot be accessed through traditional search engines and requires special software, such as Tor, to browse. It provides a platform for various illegal activities, including the sale and purchase of drugs like fentanyl.
Cautionary Note: Legal Consequences
Unfortunately, despite continued congressional focus on this issue, lives have already been lost. The stories of Charlie Ternan and Sam Berman should be a warning to those considering purchasing drugs online to beware of what they are being sold, even as unassuming or benign it may appear. This may seem harmless, but when an individual is searching to buy a drug, the platform will deliver more drug-related ads, pages, and hashtags to a user’s feed, further enabling the illicit activity. Even if a user is not actively participating on the platform by searching, liking, or sharing, algorithms use other indications of interest such as time spent hovering over a post. Fentanyl moving through the street market comes in a powder form and can be injected, smoked, or snorted.
What are fentanyl test strips?
Before delving into the specifics of where to buy fentanyl online, it is crucial to understand the legal ramifications. Purchasing fentanyl without a valid prescription is illegal in most countries, and penalties can be severe. Engaging in illegal activities on the Dark Web also exposes individuals to the risk of being caught by law enforcement agencies who actively monitor these platforms.
Mr. Webb, a laid-back snowboarder and skateboarder who, with the imminent birth of his first child, had become despondent over his pandemic-dimmed finances, bought Percocet, a prescription opioid, through a dealer on Snapchat. While websites like Flickr, Instagram, and Snapchat are not flagging the solicitation of drugs on their platforms, on the opposite end of the spectrum, Pinterest is making a concerted effort to flag such content. On Instagram, we found an account that provides a Snapchat username where, allegedly, people can reach out and buy fentanyl. Additionally, Thomas Bills provided a URL to the website for people to purchase the carfentanil powder. However, on April 24, 2022, Flickr user Mark Emilio uploaded a photo of a vial supposedly containing fentanyl. With the image, Emilio wrote, “Buy Fentanyl Online,” and provided a URL on the open web to purchase the lethal drug.
The Silk Road Legacy
The Silk Road, an infamous online marketplace, was one of the earliest platforms where people could buy drugs, including fentanyl, using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Although the original Silk Road was shut down by authorities in 2013, its legacy lives on. Numerous successors have emerged, each with their own hidden websites accessible only through the Dark Web.
Perceived barriers to selling FTS
Hidden Markets: A Game of Cat and Mouse
Michael Marquesen first noticed about a year ago that fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid, had hit the streets of Los Angeles. People suddenly started overdosing after they shot up a new white powder that dealers promised would give them a powerful high. 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. A Vermont health care center has announced it will start giving away free test strips to determine if a drug contains fentanyl. I’ve had a few people who quit using stimulants after using testing strips because they could not get any drugs that didn’t have fentanyl; their drugs were always testing positive for fentanyl.
Have naloxone on hand
As law enforcement agencies crackdown on illegal online drug markets, hidden marketplaces constantly change and adapt. New websites frequently emerge, making it difficult to provide specific URLs for where to buy fentanyl online. However, users can find updated information and links on specialized forums and message boards within the Dark Web community.
The Risks of Buying Fentanyl Online
While the convenience and anonymity of purchasing fentanyl online may be appealing to some, it is essential to consider the significant risks associated with this practice.
Here are some tips and strategies you can use to prevent accidental overdoses. Colorado authorities have seen a large influx of fentanyl over the past year and are expecting to see an increase in overdoses in the coming months. In fact, the CDC announced that fentanyl is now the leading cause of death among adults 18 to 45 in the United States. Provides counseling and support to reduce the negative impact of drug and alcohol use including structured outpatient treatment programs. We’re educating providers more about how to not stigmatize people, to treat people where they are, as they are.
Checking your drugs using a fentanyl test strip
1. Quality Control: When buying drugs from illicit sources, there is no guarantee of quality or purity. Counterfeit fentanyl or products laced with other dangerous substances could lead to unexpected and potentially fatal consequences.
2. Personal Safety: Engaging in illegal activities online poses a risk to personal safety. Fraudulent sellers can take advantage of unsuspecting buyers, leading to financial loss or even physical harm.
3. Legal Consequences: As mentioned earlier, purchasing fentanyl without a valid prescription is illegal. Getting caught in possession or trafficking of fentanyl can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment.
The Importance of Seeking Help
- These testing strips detect the presence of fentanyl in a sample of drugs, allowing you to make informed decisions about your drug use and potentially avoid overdose.
- Among U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2021, fentanyl was the top killer [PDF] for all regions of the country and all age, race, and ethnic groups.
- Their goal is to reduce the rsiks of disease and overdose deaths across Boulder County communities.
- Henry Konah Koffie, 38, sold a fentanyl derivative called furanyl fentanyl, a synthetic drug with no medical use.
Colorado has seen an increase in fentanyl overdoses over the past year. Offers needs-based mobile syringe exchange, fentanyl test strips, Naloxone (Narcan) and safer sex kits. To obtain Narcan or fentanyl test strips please check the locations below. All locations are confidential and no identifying information is collected, retained or shared with any other agency including Law Enforcement. These sites are not affiliated with any Law Enforcement Agency and no Law Enforcement Officers are present. In the 1960s, Janssen Pharmaceutica (now part of Johnson & Johnson) created fentanyl – 50 times more potent than heroin and shorter acting, so it had really good use, they believed, for surgery.
If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, seeking professional help is of utmost importance. There are numerous resources available, such as helplines and treatment centers, that can provide support and guidance.
Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is to provide information about the topic. It does not endorse or promote any illegal activities, including the purchase of fentanyl online.
In Conclusion
While it is technically possible to buy fentanyl online through the Dark Web, the legality and risks associated with such actions cannot be overlooked. The potential consequences, both in terms of personal safety and legal repercussions, far outweigh any perceived benefits. It is crucial to prioritize health, seek legitimate medical assistance, and explore legal avenues for pain management rather than taking unnecessary risks.
