More Opioids Scheduled in the USA...

The United States Federal government filed a Notice of Intent today to schedule the following seven fentanyl analog compounds:

Cyclopentylfentanyl

Isobutyrylfentanyl

Ocfentanil

Parachloroisobutyrylfentanyl

Parafluorobutyrylfentanyl

Paramethoxybutyrylfentanyl

Valerylfentanyl

Interestingly, Isobutyrylfentanyl was technically already covered as a controlled substance as the government had previously controlled Butyrylfentanyl (and its isomers) in March 2016. Also, Parafluorobutyrylfentanyl was technically covered as the government had previously controlled Parafluoroisobuyrylfentanyl (and its isomers) in March 2017. Maybe this is another sign by the Government that the Analogue Enforcement Act is neither effective nor efficient in its purpose?

Also published was a Final Order to control the opioid research chemical MT-45. It seems that the government skipped filing a Notice of Intent and went directly to Final Order on this one.

 

Heracles vs. the Hydra. Southern entrance to the Hofburg,Vienna, Austria.

Image from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hydra-Greek-mythology

This brings the list up to 20 total fentanyl analogs and designer opioids scheduled by the Federal government since 2015.

2015: Acetylfentanyl

2016: AH-7921, Betahydroxythiofentanyl, Butyrylfentanyl, Furanylfentanyl, U47700

2017: Acrylfentanyl, Cyclopentylfentanyl, Cyclopropylfentanyl, Isobutyrylfentanyl, Methoxyacetylfentanyl, MT-45, Ocfentanil, Orthofluorofentanyl, Parachloroisobutyrylfentanyl, Parafluorobutyrylfentanyl, Parafluoroisobutyrylfentanyl, Paramethoxybutyrylfentanyl, Tetrahydrofuranylfentanyl, Valerylfentanyl

It is quite alarming to see that the number of compounds scheduled has rapidly increased each year since the initial scheduling of Acetylfentanyl in 2015. Also, don’t forget that the other major fentanyl derivative that has caused many intoxications and deaths in the USA, Carfentanil, is already Schedule II.

Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are like the mythological Hydra. Sever one head, and two more sprout from the wound.

 

References

Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of Seven Fentanyl-Related Substances in Schedule I. 21 CFR Part 1308, Docket No. DEA-475, Federal Register Volume 82, Number 238 (December 13, 2017) https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2017/fr1213_2.htm

Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of MT-45 into Schedule I. 21 CFR Part 1308, Docket No. DEA-451, Federal Register Volume 82, Number 238 (December 13, 2017)                          

https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2017/fr1213_3.htm