Carfentanil on the darknet: Potential scam or alarming public health threat?

Negri, Attilio; Townshend, Honor D.; McSweeney, Tim; Angelopoulou, Olga; Banayoti, Hani; Prilutskaya, Mariya; Bowden‐Jones, Owen; Corazza, Ornella

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103118

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…2020 review [ 18 ]; 2021 classification model for carfentanil based on the chemical impurity profile of carfentanil synthesized using three different methods and analyzed by GC-MS and UHPLC-HRMS [ 19 ]; systematic analysis of the sale of Carfentanil on the darknet [ 20 ]; strategic decision making and implementation of a LC-MS-MS quantitative test method for carfentanil [ 21 ]; review [ 22 ].…”

Section: Routine and Improved Analyses Of Abused Substancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interpol Review of Drug Analysis 2019-2022

Love

Jones

2023

Forensic Science International: Synergy

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Section: Routine and Improved Analyses Of Abused Substancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interpol Review of Drug Analysis 2019-2022

Love

Jones

2023

Forensic Science International: Synergy

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“…The researchers identified a total of 866 fentanyl‐related and 334 fentanyl analog‐related product listings on both DNMs [72]. Moreover, Negri et al (2021) studied the sale of carfentanil, an extremely potent drug (the active ingredient in a tranquilizer used by veterinarians) on 19 DNMs [73]. This study identified 181 listings for carfentanil and discovered 63 carfentanil vendors on 19 DNMs [73].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decoding hidden darknet networks: What we learned about the illicit fentanyl trade on AlphaBay

Maras

Logie

Arsovska

et al. 2023

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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The opioid epidemic, impacted from the proliferation of fentanyl, has added impetus to the need to detect fentanyl, sources of fentanyl, and places where fentanyl and drugs adulterated with fentanyl are available. Many darknet marketplaces (DNMs) have rules that ban fentanyl. However, it is unclear how these affect the fentanyl market. Using the AlphaBay DNM as a case study, we conducted mixed methods qualitative research. We scraped and analyzed data from the AlphaBay I2P website using, among other methods, content and social network analysis, to uncover hidden fentanyl networks. Our research highlights the next evolution of darknet marketplaces – the migration of DNMs from Tor to I2P and the methods that can be used identify fentanyl networks, irrespective of where sites are: I2P, Tor, or multihomed on I2P and Tor. Despite its ban in the Global AlphaBay Rules, our research revealed the sale of fentanyl on the AlphaBay DNM. Unlike previous studies, our findings predominantly revealed the covert sale of fentanyl on AlphaBay and predatory vendors selling illicit drugs, which unbeknownst to buyers, contained fentanyl. To a lesser extent, our findings identified the overt sale of fentanyl patches on AlphaBay. Although we examined only one DNM, the prevalence of the covert sale of fentanyl and the presence of predatory vendors underscores the importance of research that decodes the language of vendors who surreptitiously sell fentanyl or drugs adulterated with fentanyl or other illicit substances. The results of our research can inform strategies aimed at disrupting and dismantling DNM fentanyl networks.

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“…Carfentanil has a 4‐anilidopiperidine class structure similar to that of fentanyl, with modifications at the 4‐piperidinyl end of fentanyl, also known as 4‐carbomethoxyfentanyl (Figure 1). It was first synthesised in 1974 and approved for veterinary use as a tranquilliser for large animals in 1986 6 . As of roughly 2016, carfentanil has emerged as a known additive to other drugs of abuse in the United States and Canada 7 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was first synthesised in 1974 and approved for veterinary use as a tranquilliser for large animals in 1986. 6 As of roughly 2016, carfentanil has emerged as a known additive to other drugs of abuse in the United States and Canada. 7 Similar to fentanyl, carfentanil is an ultra-potent μ-opioid receptor agonist.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of abuse potential of carfentanil

Wei

Lai

et al. 2023

Addiction Biology

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Carfentanil, as a fentanyl analogue, is a potent synthetic opioid. It has been controlled in many countries, and its emergence has been highlighted by many recent reports.However, although discriminative stimulus effects of carfentanil in rats had been reported, its abuse potential has not been fully evaluated. In this study, we evaluated the abuse potential of carfentanil via the tests of conditioned place preference (CPP), drug self-administration and naloxone-precipitated opioid withdrawal assay, com-

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Carfentanil on the darknet: Potential scam or alarming public health threat?

Cited by 17 publications

References 24 publications

Interpol Review of Drug Analysis 2019-2022

Interpol Review of Drug Analysis 2019-2022

Decoding hidden darknet networks: What we learned about the illicit fentanyl trade on AlphaBay

Assessment of abuse potential of carfentanil

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