5 things to know about America’s synthetic-opioid epidemic
WASHINGTON — Government scientists say they’re seeing the emergence of a new class of deadly drugs built to mimic the potent prescription painkiller fentanyl. What you need to know:
___
DOZENS OF VARIANTS
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Special Testing and Research Laboratory has around 50 fentanyl-related compounds in its drugs database. Regulators are trying to catch up. China has blacklisted 19 fentanyl-related molecules and is now considering adding four more to its list of controlled substances, including the weapons-grade carfentanil .