Fentanyl is nasty, nasty stuff.
I’m pretty sure that was in the gas pumped in during the Moscow Theatre Crisis, if you remember that, which resulted in the deaths of 130 innocents. The survivors were treated with Naloxone, which is a pretty good indicator that an opioid was used.
Why anyone would use this recreationally is utterly beyond me.
I would suspect addicts really don’t have much of an ability in choice in the matter. I would also suspect they have little knowledge in the drug as well... and they might well be innocent in the lacing of their
“medicine”
It is a very powerful narcotic but very short acting. It is used in general anesthesia and for severe pain. People abuse it like any other opioid. I have seen people eat the transdermal patches or brew them in hot water like tea. It is not available in pill form, the only other way to get it outside of a hospital is in the form of a small lollipop that is held against the cheek until absorbed. This makes it very useful for wilderness trips where one might have to treat major trauma with limited space to carry supplies
Like any other drug, it is a blessing or curse depending how used. I’m surprised it is used to cut street drugs - its very expensive. It is not available in a gas form so I doubt it was used in Moscow.