Illicit Synthetic Drugs Grow Cheaper and More Potent in US Markets

Illicit synthetic drugs have become increasingly potent and affordable in the United States, with fentanyl and its analogs now widespread in many regions. This shift has led to changes in drug markets and contributed to higher overdose death rates.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is now common as a replacement for heroin due to its lower cost and higher potency. Dealers can produce a larger number of doses from the same amount of raw material compared to traditional plant-based drugs. This change has made synthetic opioids more prevalent and accessible.

In cities like Baltimore, heroin purity has increased while the price per pure gram has dropped to historic lows. At the same time, deaths involving fentanyl have risen sharply, with the number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Baltimore climbing from single digits to over 180 in 2015 and more than 400 in 2016. Baltimore has also been identified as a major hub for the distribution of fentanyl, contributing to elevated overdose rates in the area.

What the numbers show

• Fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Baltimore rose from single digits to over 400 between 2015 and 2016.
• Carfentanil is 100 times stronger than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than morphine.
• More than 1,440 new psychoactive substances have been recorded since 2013.

Ultra-potent synthetic opioids, such as nitazenes and carfentanil, have been linked to fatal incidents in various settings. In Cook County Jail in Chicago, inmates died after exposure to nitazenes, which can be up to 20 times more potent than fentanyl and were delivered through drug-soaked paper. Carfentanil, which is even more powerful, has caused hundreds of deaths across the country during its resurgence.

Illicit synthetic drugs are not only more potent but also less expensive to produce and more difficult to detect than traditional plant-derived substances. The emergence of over 1,440 new psychoactive substances since 2013 has added complexity to enforcement and public health efforts.

Reports have documented that synthetic drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine are increasingly replacing plant-based drugs. These substances are often chosen because they are cheaper, more potent, and present greater challenges for law enforcement agencies trying to control their distribution.

A New York Times article highlighted Baltimore as a case study, describing how ultrapotent fentanyl and similar synthetic drugs have outcompeted traditional drugs in both price and potency. This trend has contributed to the evolving landscape of drug use and distribution in the United States.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and other sources have confirmed that Baltimore serves as a key location for the cutting and distribution of fentanyl. This activity has played a role in the region’s high rates of overdose deaths, reflecting broader national trends in synthetic drug markets.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.