DANGER SCALE
Para-fluorofentanyl and Metonitazene
Para-fluorofentanyl is a schedule I substance that can be found in heroin packets and counterfeit pills, it was invented in the 1960s and has been sold illegally sometimes under the name “China White”. Metonitazene is a benzimidazole-opioid that was developed in the 1950s but was never authorized for medical treatment. This combination is seen more frequently by medical examiners assessing overdose deaths.
Other names?
None that we know of.
Where do people get it?
Illicitly in the streets.
How is it dangerous?
Each of these drugs taken alone can lead to respiratory depression, but combining them could cause serious adverse effects. In the Knoxville area, between November 2020 and August 2021, there were 770 recorded unintentional drug overdose deaths. 562 were identified fentanyl only, 188 tested positive for fentanyl and methamphetamine, 48 involved para-fluorofentanyl, and 26 involved metonitazene.
Naloxone still appears to be effective with this dangerous mix, but it’s unclear how many doses will be required with stronger opioids like these.