Has there been any research into how to measure potency (of fentanyl) and cut it properly? Maybe we could keep the government out of it, and instead give information and supplies to measure the potency correctly? I've heard that one way OD's happen is the substance is not homogeneous, so they can consume half the bag fine, then one dose is super-charged and puts them into OD (because fent can be up to thousands of times stronger than a morphine equivalent). Maybe teach addicts how to dissolve their dope in a liquid and reconstitute it so it's homogeneous in potency? Addicts can be extremely cunning with their drive to get money for dope, so I dont see why they can't use that will power to their advantage. I wonder if they could also get a primitive CPAP machine to keep them breathing if they do OD? IIRC death comes from lack of breathing, not acute toxicity or anything.
Your post is a prime example of the classic engineering approach of efficiently solutioning the immediate technical problem without solving the actual root cause because it's too complex or messy. I mean, CPAP machines for drug addicts because street fentanyl is too potent and inconsistent?
> Has there been any research into how to measure potency (of fentanyl) and cut it properly?
Yes?
When you're having surgery and the anesthesiologist uses a mixture of fentanyl and propofol, such that you safely wake up, they aren't just guessing.
One problem is that what's out on the street isn't necessarily fentanyl in the first place, but any one of hundreds of fentanyl analogs, which all vary in potency. You have no idea whether what you're measuring is fentanyl.
If you "give information and supplies", how do you keep the government out of it? At the very least, the government has to decriminalize what you're doing. Then what; someone has to pay for it. What about liability? If someone dies and it turns out you gave them the supplies, you're liable.
The anesthesiologist doesn't pull out a test strip and check (measure) the purity of the fent they pump the patient with, so you are incorrect. I'm suggesting providing addicts with the tools to measure their own dope's potency so they can avoid OD.
Are many of them going to care? I imagine testing would be useful for pill-takers at festivals, but something that is a daily addiction dominating life seems a different case.
> I imagine testing would be useful for pill-takers at festivals
And many people bring test kits to festivals and raves and clubs and bars already. So this is 100% a proven solution for light recreational party usage.
I agree with skepticism about addicts (especially someone living on the street, etc)
You are talking about harm mitigation, and when options are made available there is very enthusiastic take-up from even street addicts. If you create a safe injection center people will come and use there, so there is medical care. If you distribute drug test kits they will use them. If you offer clean needles they will use them.
We don’t offer them in most places because (a) nobody wants a safe drug use center near them because drug users will come to it and (b) a really despicable and unfortunately common attitude that harm reduction is bad because it keeps drug users alive.
