Authors
Edward Sisco, Elise M Pyfrom, Meghan G Appley, Elizabeth L Robinson, Katya A Beltran, Sarah A Shuda
Published in
Drug testing and analysis. Oct 07, 2026. Epub Oct 07, 2026.
Abstract
The illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) market in the United States has grown increasingly adulterated, complicating public health and law enforcement responses. This study examines qualitative and quantitative fentanyl adulteration trends using data from the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Rapid Drug Analysis and Research (RaDAR) program between January 2024 and June 2026. Analyzing 4563 qualitative and 1224 quantitative results from samples collected across 17 states, the research highlights significant geographic (East vs. West) and temporal shifts in the unregulated drug supply. Results indicate a sharp increase in sample complexity, with many samples containing over five compounds by late 2025. The data details the widespread emergence and subsequent regional shifts of α2-agonists (from xylazine to medetomidine), local anesthetics (lidocaine, tetracaine, and procaine), and the industrial chemical BTMPS. Quantitative findings reveal that IMF from the West consistently exhibited higher fentanyl purity (≈13% mass fraction) compared with the East (≈5% mass fraction). Furthermore, paired concentration analysis suggests that the presence of IMF in stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine likely stems from low-level unintentional contamination rather than intentional mixing. Ultimately, this research underscores the volatility of the IMF supply and demonstrates the critical need for continuous, comprehensive drug checking networks to rapidly detect and respond to evolving adulteration trends.
PMID:
42844883
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 08 Oct 2026.
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