WASHINGTON, D.C., United States – March 2017: On 23 March, 2017, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) notified of the intent to issue a temporary order to schedule the synthetic opioid para-fluoroisobutyrfentanyl (also known as para-fluoroisobutyrylfentanyl) into Schedule I pursuant to the provisions of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Substances in Schedule I of the CSA are those that have a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. In the United States at least 62 overdose deaths involving the use of para-fluoroisobutyrfentanyl have been confirmed in Maryland in 2016. A recent UNODC publication called “Fentanyl and its analogues - 50 years on” provides further information on the global emergence of fentanyl analogues and their health risks.

For more information, please see:

Federal Register of the United states Government “Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of 4-Fluoroisobutyryl Fentanyl Into Schedule I” – https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/03/23/2017-05728/schedules-of-controlled-substances-temporary-placement-of-4-fluoroisobutyryl-fentanyl-into-schedule?utm_campaign=subscription%20mailing%20list&utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email

UNODC Report on “Fentanyl and its analogues - 50 years on” – http://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/Global_SMART_Update_Vol.17_web.pdf

UNODC EWA news clip on “Fentanyl and its analogues explored in the Global SMART Update 17” – https://www.unodc.org/LSS/Announcement/Details/8c90aa33-25c7-4bd3-b575-59a1ca2e9d35