Methoxyacetylfentanyl Explained
Methoxyacetylfentanyl, commonly known as MAF is an opioid analgesic that is an analog of fentanyl and has been sold online as a designer drug.[1]
Side effects
Side effects of fentanyl analogs are similar to those of fentanyl itself, which include itching, nausea and potentially serious respiratory depression, which can be life-threatening. Fentanyl analogs have killed hundreds of people throughout Europe and the former Soviet republics since the most recent resurgence in use began in Estonia in the early 2000s, and novel derivatives continue to appear.[2] A new wave of fentanyl analogues and associated deaths began in around 2014 in the US, and have continued to grow in prevalence; especially since 2016 these drugs have been responsible for hundreds of overdose deaths every week.[3]
Legal status
Methoxyacetylfentanyl was placed into Schedule I in the US in October 2017, in order to avoid an imminent hazard to public safety.[4]
See also
Notes and References
- Book: Methoxyacetylfentanyl : EMCDDA–Europol joint report on a new psychoactive substance : 2-methoxy-N-phenyl-N-1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin-4-ylacetamide (methoxyacetylfentanyl) : in accordance with Article 5 of Council Decision 2005/387/JHA on the information exchange, risk assessment and control of new psychoactive substances.. February 2017. Publications Office. 10.2810/786704. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs Drug Addiction. European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation. 9789294972569.
- Mounteney J, Giraudon I, Denissov G, Griffiths P . Fentanyls: Are we missing the signs? Highly potent and on the rise in Europe . The International Journal on Drug Policy . 26 . 7 . 626–31 . July 2015 . 25976511 . 10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.04.003 .
- Armenian P, Vo KT, Barr-Walker J, Lynch KL . Fentanyl, fentanyl analogs and novel synthetic opioids: A comprehensive review . Neuropharmacology . October 2017 . 134 . Pt A . 121–132 . 29042317 . 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.10.016 . 21404877 .
- Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice . Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of ortho-Fluorofentanyl, Tetrahydrofuranyl Fentanyl, and Methoxyacetyl Fentanyl Into Schedule I. Temporary amendment; temporary scheduling order . Federal Register . 82 . 206 . 49504–8 . October 2017 . 29091366 .
