Furanyl fentanyl is a deadly cousin of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which can be 50 to 100 times more powerful than heroin and is responsible for hundreds of deaths around the U.S.
The production and dissemination of illicit synthetic opioids is increasing, according to the report. The drugs are often sold online by Chinese labs, which makes it difficult for forensic detectives and law enforcement to prevent drug-related crimes and overdoses.
The DEA added five synthetic opioids to its Schedule I category in 2016, a list that includes drugs that don’t serve a medical purpose and pose a significant risk for abuse, such as heroin and ecstasy.
According to the DEA, furanyl fentanyl, a relatively new drug, didn’t appear in the national database that tracks drug seizures until December 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported. However, it is among the most dangerous of designer opioids. NMS Labs, a private lab that works with states around the U.S., has linked 325 deaths to furanyl fentanyl from Jan. 1 through October, according to the report.
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