Orthofluorofentanyl

Orthofluorofentanyl (o-fluorofentanyl, 2-fluorofentanyl) is an opioid analgesic that is an analog of fentanyl and has been sold online as a designer drug. While the structural isomer p-fluorofentanyl was one of the first illicit fentanyl analogues identified in 1981, Orthofluorofentanyl did not appear on the illicit market until August 2016.

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. 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.

Legal status 
Orthofluorofentanyl was placed into Schedule I in the US in October 2017, in order to avoid an imminent hazard to public safety.

See also
 2,2'-Difluorofentanyl
 4-Fluorobutyrylfentanyl
 4-Fluoroisobutyrylfentanyl
 Furanylfentanyl
 List of fentanyl analogues

References 

Category:Anilides
Category:Designer drugs
Category:Fluoroarenes
Category:Mu-opioid agonists
Category:Piperidines
Category:Propionamides
Category:Synthetic opioids