Why are drug dealers putting fentanyl in everything? (Part 1)
Aug 11, 2023
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Join journalist Ben Westhoff, author of "Fentanyl, Inc.," as he unpacks the disturbing rise of fentanyl in street drugs. He shares chilling recordings from a Chinese lab, revealing how dealers integrate this deadly substance into various drugs—often risking their own customers' lives. Westhoff discusses the dual legacy of fentanyl's creator and dives into the cultural narratives that led to the opioid epidemic. He also sheds light on the dangers of drug contamination and the stark realities of profit-driven practices in the drug trade.
Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, became a street drug due to its cheap cost and ease of production in clandestine labs, leading to unintentional overdoses when mixed with other drugs.
The opioid crisis in the US was fueled by Purdue Pharma's misleading marketing of OxyContin, creating a demand for opioids that led to the emergence of fentanyl as a cheaper and stronger alternative.
Deep dives
The Rise of Fentanyl and Its Role in the Opioid Crisis
Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, has become a major problem in the United States, leading to a surge in opioid overdose deaths. The drug was invented in 1959 as a hospital anesthetic by Paul Janssen, a respected pharmaceutical researcher. However, its potential for abuse and addiction was underestimated. In 2015, the US government did not consider fentanyl a significant threat, but within a year, it became the leading cause of drug overdose deaths. Fentanyl is attractive to drug dealers because it is cheap to produce, highly potent, and can be easily manufactured in clandestine labs. Most of the fentanyl in the US is supplied by China, where regulations on analogs of the drug were slow to be implemented. As a result, fentanyl enters the US drug market through Mexican cartels, who distribute it alongside heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. The danger lies in fentanyl being unknowingly mixed into other drugs like cocaine and marijuana, leading to unintentional overdoses. Despite its lethal nature, some addicts actively seek fentanyl because of its short-lasting high and potency. The illicit drug market operates in ways that defy traditional logic, as profit and addiction trump ethical considerations, ultimately leading to the poisoning of their own customers.
The Role of Purdue Pharma and OxyContin in the Opioid Crisis
The opioid crisis in the United States was triggered, in part, by Purdue Pharma's aggressive marketing of OxyContin, a prescription painkiller. The Sackler family, who owned Purdue Pharma, marketed OxyContin as a safe and non-addictive drug due to its time-release coating. However, this claim was proven false, as addiction rates were found to be much higher. As a result, the government imposed regulations on OxyContin prescriptions, leading to a surge in demand for opioids among addicted patients. Many turned to heroin on the streets, which created a market for fentanyl, a cheaper and more potent alternative. Fentanyl dealers capitalized on the demand, initially hiding the drug in heroin without users realizing. This gave them an advantage as they could offer a stronger product for less money. Over time, fentanyl began to be sold as fentanyl, attracting both users seeking a more intense high and unwitting victims. The opioid crisis underscores the power of narrative and the manipulation of perceptions surrounding drugs, where the rewriting of a drug's story can have devastating consequences.
The Illicit Drug Market and the Role of Fentanyl
The illicit drug market is characterized by chaos and uncertainty. Drugs, including fentanyl, are often adulterated and potent, reflecting the lack of regulation in underground markets. American drugs have a long history of adulteration, and fentanyl is no exception. Dealers put fentanyl in drugs like cocaine and marijuana to fulfill demand and maximize profits. The adulteration practice began with small amounts and gradually increased. Users might not differentiate the effects due to the prevalent adulteration of cocaine in the US, coupled with a lack of complaints about the fentanyl-cut drugs. Consequently, fentanyl-laced drugs continue to be sold, even if users are aware of the risks. The underground drug market defies conventional logic, as profits and addiction outweigh concerns about customer safety. The illicit market operates in a way that is both dangerous and nihilistic, where poisoning customers can be seen as a viable business strategy.
The Dangers of Fentanyl and the Need for Harm Reduction
Fentanyl presents significant risks to users due to its extreme potency and short duration of effect. The high from fentanyl wears off quickly, leading to users seeking more doses to maintain their high. This perpetuates a dangerous cycle of addiction and increases the risk of overdose. Many illicit drug users complain about fentanyl and its negative effects, but their voices often go unheard. Drug dealers take advantage of this, using death caused by high fentanyl content as an advertisement for the drug. Some users are even drawn to fentanyl despite its dangers. Harm reduction efforts, such as fentanyl test strips, are available to help users identify the presence of fentanyl in their drugs. Resources like DanceSafe and DrugsData.org provide testing services and information about the content of illicit drugs. The story of fentanyl highlights the desperate and perilous nature of the underground drug market, where safety takes a backseat to profit.
Isn't it bad business to kill your own customers? In part one of our answer to this question, we talk to reporter Ben Westhoff, who helps us understand how Fentanyl became a street drug in the first place. He'll share recordings taped in a Chinese Fentanyl lab, and explain why some dealers might want to poison their own customers with the drug. If you have questions or comments about this episode, or if you'd like to support the show, head to our newsletter.
