Receptor Profile
Receptor Actions
History & Culture
Acrylfentanyl emerged as a novel psychoactive substance in the designer drug market during the mid-2010s as part of a broader wave of illicit fentanyl analogs. The compound is a structural analog of fentanyl, featuring an acryloyl group modification, and was primarily distributed through online vendors catering to the research chemical market. The substance came to significant public health attention in summer 2016 when it was linked to a cluster of fatal overdoses across Scandinavia, including twenty deaths in Sweden and two deaths in Denmark. These fatalities prompted rapid regulatory responses, with Sweden classifying acrylfentanyl as an illegal medicine in August 2016. The compound represents one of numerous fentanyl analogs that proliferated during this period as manufacturers sought to circumvent existing controlled substance legislation while meeting demand for potent synthetic opioids.
Effect Profile
CuratedStrong euphoria with moderate itching/nausea, mild pain relief, low sedation
Tolerance & Pharmacokinetics
drugs.wikiCross-Tolerances
Legal Status
| Country | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | Illegal (classified as illegal medicine) | Designated as an illegal medicine as of 16 August 2016. Production, distribution, and possession are prohibited under Swedish drug control legislation. |
| United States | Schedule I | Controlled under the Controlled Substances Act. Classified as having high abuse potential with no accepted medical use. |
Harm Reduction
drugs.wiki• Ultra‑potent: small volumes can yield thousands of doses; microgram‑scale errors are routinely fatal. Use volumetric dosing and avoid handling dry powder. Carry naloxone. [Rationale: EUDA notes fentanils’ extreme potency; TripSit provides volumetric dosing tool. Sources at end.]
• Naloxone does reverse acrylfentanyl, but multiple doses and/or continuous infusion may be required with strong or long‑acting opioids and polysubstance samples. Always provide rescue breathing and call emergency services due to re‑narcotization risk. [Rationale: EUDA states naloxone works for acryloylfentanyl; drug checking data show multi‑high‑potency opioid mixes may need higher-than-normal naloxone.]
• Widespread polysubstance adulteration: many ‘fentanyl’ supplies contain additional high‑potency opioids and/or veterinary tranquilizers (xylazine, medetomidine). Naloxone will not reverse non‑opioid sedatives; continue rescue breathing and seek help. [Rationale: 2024–2025 drug checking findings; DrugWise xylazine brief.]
• Avoid combining with any depressants (alcohol, benzos, Z‑drugs, barbiturates, GHB/GBL) due to strong additive respiratory depression; many fatal overdoses involve these combos. [Rationale: general harm reduction guidance; Erowid opioid cautions.]
• Ready‑to‑use nasal sprays have been seized on the market; mg/mL concentration may be unknown or uneven. If using, ensure a verified concentration, shake/prime before use, and start with a single measured spray. [Rationale: EUDA reporting of illicit nasal sprays.]
• Post‑reversal monitoring: subjective effects may fade before the drug clears, especially with high‑potency opioid mixes; monitor for several hours after naloxone to prevent re‑narcotization. [Rationale: general opioid pharmacology and EUDA harm‑reduction focus.]
• Test what you can: fentanyl test strips do not detect nitazenes; a negative FTS does not prove samples are free of other high‑potency opioids/sedatives. [Rationale: Hi‑Ground nitazene guidance.]
• Handling safety: avoid aerosolizing powder; minimize skin contact and inhalation exposure when preparing solutions; label all solutions with substance and concentration. [Rationale: EUDA warns of accidental exposure via skin/inhalation; TripSit volumetric dosing practices.]
• Dependence and tolerance can escalate rapidly; large day‑to‑day dose changes markedly increase overdose risk, especially after short abstinence (‘lost tolerance’). [Rationale: Erowid opioid tolerance warning.]
• Consider non‑injecting routes if dependent and unable to abstain; if injecting, use sterile equipment, rotate sites, and use sterile water/filters to reduce infection risk. [Rationale: standard HR; aligns with EUDA ‘health and social responses’ guidance.]
References
Data Sources
Cited References
- Breindahl et al. 2017 - Identification of acrylfentanyl in seized material
- Guerrieri et al. 2017 - Acrylfentanyl: Another new psychoactive drug with fatal consequences
- Helander et al. 2018 - Intoxications involving acrylfentanyl in Sweden
- Reddit r/researchchemicals - PSA: Acrylfentanyl user reports on naloxone resistance (2017)
- TripSit: Wiki - Acrylfentanyl
- UNODC: Early Warning Advisory - Analytical Report on Acrylfentanyl (2017)
- Watanabe et al. 2017 - Acrylfentanyl: metabolism, potency and forensic cases
Drugs.wiki References
- TripSit – Volumetric Dosing Tool
- EUDA news: Acryloylfentanyl control decision; naloxone works
- EUDA: Risk assessment of acryloylfentanyl (publication entry)
- PubChem Compound: Acrylfentanyl (synonyms & identifiers)
- Drug checking: high‑potency opioid co‑occurrence; naloxone may need higher doses
- Drug checking: veterinary tranquilizers and multiple high‑potency opioids in ‘fentanyl’ supply
- DrugWise: Xylazine overview and naloxone limitations
- Erowid Opioid FAQ / Fentanyl Vault (general opioid HR, duration, dependence)
- EUDA 2017 feature: fentanils’ extreme potency and accidental exposure risks