ortho-Methylfentanyl is an active mu-opioid receptor agonist with potency similar to that of fentanyl. ortho-Methylfentanyl bears structural resemblance to fentanyl and fentanyl analogues (e.g., para-fluorofentanyl). ortho-Methylfentanyl is synthetically manufactured and can appear in three positional isomeric forms: ortho-, meta-, and para-methylfentanyl. ortho-Methylfentanyl is a Schedule I drug in the United States under the Controlled Substances Act (21 CFR 1308). The effects of ortho-methylfentanyl are similar to those of fentanyl, including analgesia, sedation, drowsiness, euphoria, etc., and in severe intoxication cases respiratory depression and death.
ortho-Methylfentanyl is the latest synthetic opioid to appear in the recreational drug supply with increasing regularity in North America. ortho-Methylfentanyl is often identified alongside fentanyl and/or para-fluorofentanyl in drug materials and biological specimens. ortho-Methylfentanyl first emerged in early 2023 in British Columbia, Canada, and since initial identification, ortho-methylfentanyl has been confirmed in >200+ forensic specimens originating from Canada and the United States.
