Where Does Fentanyl Come From?

Fentanyl & Synthetic Opioids Derived From the Poppy Plant

Fentanyl is classified (1) as an opioid. Opioids are broken down into three categories.

• Natural Opioids — Substances like opium and morphine would fall into this category due to the fact that they occur naturally in the seed pods of the poppy plant and are able to be harvested and distilled without the addition of any unnatural or “man made” chemicals. The unripened pods are cut and secrete a milky white substance. Once this substance thickens, it is harvested and dried out. This is opium and is the base for most other opioids.
• Semi-synthetic Opioids — This is the largest classification of opioids containing substances like heroin and most prescription opioids (Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, etc.). These substances are derived from their naturally occurring counterparts, but are distilled further and mixed with other compounds that are not found in nature.
• Synthetic Opioids — These are fully synthetic chemical compounds designed with the intended purpose of mimicking the effects of naturally occurring opioids, often with an elevated impact. Fentanyl is classified as a fully synthetic opioid along with substances like methadone and suboxone.

Pharmaceutical Fentanyl Production

Fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II narcotic, meaning that it has a high potential for addiction (2), but does carry medical uses. When used properly as prescribed, fentanyl is a powerful pain reliever for those recovering from surgery or experiencing other chronic pain. It can be given in a shot, in a topical patch, or in a lozenge to be sucked like a cough drop. It is often prescribed for those who have a negative or lack of response to other prescription opioids. The legal streams of fentanyl production are sourced predominantly from laboratories in China.

Where Does Illegally-Produced Fentanyl Come From?

Like many illegal substances with a legal pharmaceutical counterpart, the production is often from the same regions if not the exact same locations. As opportunities for profit continue to rise due to extremely high demand, many parts of the world (3) see an opportunity to improve their quality of life by exporting these illicit substances. Many times, however, criminal organizations with force or coercion recruit someone knowledgeable of the legal manufacturing process in order to produce an illegal counterfeit.

China

As a leading manufacturer of legal fentanyl used for medical purposes, China is also a leader in the manufacturing and distribution of illegal fentanyl. Often entering the U.S. through international mail, Americans are able to purchase and ship directly to themselves through unregulated drug platforms located on the “dark web.” As technology continues to progress, the means by which it is used for illegal purposes continues to progress as well. With high availability of the chemicals needed to manufacture fentanyl along with the knowledge of the process for legal purposes, it makes sense that this area of the world would be a leader in the illegal production of this substance as well.

India

As a hub for other legal and illegal opioid production, India has become a leader in illegal fentanyl manufacturing as well. With low production costs and access to the required chemicals, India is able to produce large quantities of these illegal substances at a fraction of the cost that they would be elsewhere. They enter into the U.S. much the same way that illegal fentanyl enters from China, over the “dark web.”

Mexico

Though Mexico is considered to be an entry point into the U.S. rather than a manufacturing location, many opportunistic criminal organizations have capitalized on the high demand for fentanyl. Mexican cartels have begun to gain the necessary knowledge and chemicals to manufacture this potent substance in Mexico. This manufacturing has exploded due to the close proximity to the United States, the world’s leading consumer of illegal fentanyl.