China white
China White refers to a variety of illicitly manufactured fentanyl derivatives, classified as designer drugs that exhibit high potency and opiate-like qualities. These substances are illegal in the United States and worldwide, categorized as Schedule I controlled substances due to their significant potential for abuse and lack of accepted medical use. Historically, the term "China White" was initially associated with a pure form of heroin before being adopted by a potent fentanyl derivative known as alpha-methyl fentanyl in the 1970s.
Typically found in powder form, China White can be inhaled, smoked, snorted, or injected, resembling street heroin. Its use has surged among heroin users seeking a cheaper and more potent alternative. However, its high potency and inconsistent purity pose serious risks, leading to a greater likelihood of accidental overdose and death. The immediate effects include intense euphoria followed by relaxation, but negative consequences can range from nausea and dizziness to severe respiratory depression.
The ongoing opioid crisis has been exacerbated by the availability of synthetic opioids like China White, particularly as access to prescription opioids has decreased. Despite law enforcement efforts to combat its spread, China White continues to be a popular choice among users, underscoring its dangerous and addictive nature.
Subject Terms
China white
DEFINITION: China White is a common name for a number of illegally manufactured fentanyl derivatives. These substances, considered designer drugs, are highly potent narcotic analgesics with opiate-like properties.
STATUS: Illegal in the United States (US) and worldwide
CLASSIFICATION: Schedule I controlled substance
SOURCE: China White consists of various synthetic fentanyl derivatives. Most China White is smuggled from Mexico into the US or manufactured in illegal clandestine laboratories.
TRANSMISSION ROUTE: China White exists in powder form and resembles street heroin. It can be inhaled, smoked, snorted, or injected.
History of Use
Fentanyl was first synthesized in the 1950s by Janssen Pharmaceuticals of Belgium as a fast-acting narcotic analgesic. The modification of the fentanyl molecule by clandestine chemists produced analogs known as designer drugs that are similar to, but more potent than, heroin. China White was once the name of a pure form of heroin made popular by counterculture icons like Jerry Garcia. However, the name was transferred to a potent form of fentanyl. In the 1970s, the first fentanyl designer drug created and labeled as China White was alpha-methyl fentanyl, a simple derivative with twice the potency of fentanyl. China White gained popularity as a recreational drug among heroin users because it was a cheaper and more potent synthetic alternative.
China White is one of the most addictive, unpredictable, and lethal illegal drugs available. It is more dangerous than legal opioids because of its high potency and unknown purity. It is frequently combined with low-quality heroin to increase potency. By the 1980s, China White was responsible for numerous overdose deaths in the US. As a result, the fentanyl forms of China White are now classified as Schedule I controlled substances under the US Controlled Substances Act (1970). Schedule I controlled substances are drugs with high abuse potential and no legitimate medical use. Despite numerous efforts to curb the illegal manufacture of China White, its abuse continues to be a concern.
Effects and Potential Risks
Similar to other opiates, China White acts through opioid receptors to alter the brain’s response to pain. It lessens pain sensations and elevates levels of dopamine, the neurotransmitter linked to pleasurable experiences.
China White pharmacologically mimics the effects of heroin, but it has a quicker onset and a shorter duration. Its short-term effects include a rush of euphoria, followed by feelings of peacefulness and physical relaxation. Negative short-term effects include drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and headache.
Many people who use China White do so to achieve greater heroin-like highs. The most immediate and intense “rush” typically occurs through intravenous injection; the high is fast and intense but brief. However, there is little distinction between a dose that leads to euphoria and one that leads to death.
China White is highly addictive, and physical and psychological tolerance and dependence develop quickly. Long-term use can lead to anxiety and paranoia and can cause many physical problems, including painful constipation, muscle rigidity, tremors, paralysis, and respiratory depression. Accidental overdose and death are also prevalent.
In the ongoing opioid crisis of the twenty-first century, fentanyl analogs like China White have played a concerning role. As access to legal prescriptions for opioid drugs diminished, users turned to synthetic opioids like China White. In the mid-2020s, synthetic fentanyl analogs continue to be easier to obtain than prescription pills and of higher potency than opioid medication and heroin. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, China White remained a popular designer drug of choice, even with the high risk of overdoses and death.
Bibliography
Clayton, Lawrence. Designer Drugs. New York: Rosen, 1998.
Gahlinger, Paul M. Illegal Drugs: A Complete Guide to Their History, Chemistry, Use, and Abuse. New York: Plume, 2004.
Goldberg, Raymond. Drugs across the Spectrum. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2010.
"Local Drug Dealer Admits to Selling 'China White.'" DEA.gov, 8 Aug. 2023, www.dea.gov/press-releases/2023/08/08/local-drug-dealer-admits-selling-china-white. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.
Olive, M. Foster. Designer Drugs. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2003.
Scaccia, Annamarya. "China White: What You Need to Know About Heroin-Like Drug." Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2017, www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/china-white-what-you-need-to-know-about-heroin-like-drug-107437. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.