3 ms·
From a harm reduction perspective, what would the minimum testing kit to differentiate fentanyl from other physically similar-appearing drugs look like?
by rdl 10y ago
From a harm reduction perspective, what would the minimum testing kit to differentiate fentanyl from other physically similar-appearing drugs look like?
- JshWright 10y agoIt would look like this: http://www.sirchie.com/nark20033-fentanyl-reagent.html#.V8uEMp8pBnE http://www.sirchie.com/nark20033-fentanyl-reagent.html#.V8uE... The problem is, it's a destructive test, which makes it unattractive to both dealers and users, as it requires wasting at least some of the product.
- Symbiote 10y agoAn additional problem is it says only police are allowed to buy the kit. Seems strange, when tests for other drugs are available.
- dzmien 10y agoIt probably uses a marquis reagent, which could theoretically be made at home, as it is just a mixture of formaldehyde and sulfuric acid[0]. There are also websites[1] that have a key describing the colors that a number of substances produce on reaction with various reagents. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquis_reagent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquis_reagent [1] https://dancesafe.org/testing-kit-instructions/ https://dancesafe.org/testing-kit-instructions/
- dzmien 10y agoWhen I was an active heroin addict, I would do a small test shot of new product before doing a normal dose. If it was too strong, then the match-head sized shot would get me off, and I would know to go easy on it. If nothing happened, I would wait 5 minutes and then raise the dose, until I was where I wanted to be. I somehow managed to avoid overdosing in the 8 or so years I was using. I don't know what part of that can be attributed to caution or luck, but there was probably a lot of luck involved. Either way, that chapter of my life is over, and I am grateful to have come out alive.