Last Updated on April 25, 2023 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims that when fentanyl burns, it smells like popcorn. It further suggests that your life could be saved if you stop if your weed starts to smell like popcorn. After fact checking we found this claim to be False.
The Claim
A Facebook post, “When FENTANYL burns, it smells like popcorn.
If your weed smells like popcorn, stop!
It could save your life.”
Fact Check
What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid (a wide range of analgesic medications that function by interacting with the opioid receptors in your cells) that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is used to treat severe pain, such as that experienced by people with cancer or after surgery. Fentanyl can be administered in several ways, including transdermal patches, lozenges, injections, nasal sprays, and lollipops. However, fentanyl is also commonly used illicitly as a recreational drug due to its potent effects, and it has become a major contributor to the opioid epidemic in many countries.
Does burning fentanyl smell like popcorn?
No. There is no evidence fentanyl has a noticeable smell when it’s burned, but there might be a possibility that when other substances mixed with it could sometimes produce a smell.
The CDC shares a list of facts about fentanyl. Amongst it, the CDC clearly states that there might be deadly levels of fentanyl present in drugs, and one still not be able to see it, taste it, or smell it. It further mentions, “It is nearly impossible to tell if drugs have been laced with fentanyl unless you test your drugs with fentanyl test strips.”
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety also states that similar and mentions fentanyl as odourless and tasteless and, therefore, can be hard to detect.
It must be noted that because of its high potency, fentanyl carries a significant risk of overdose and death, especially when used improperly or mixed with other substances like alcohol or other drugs. It is also highly addictive and can cause physical dependence with prolonged use. Therefore, fentanyl should only be used under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider.
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