“Strong as fentanyl, safe as marijuana”: Sociology of the rise of a new synthetic opioid on Darknet marketplaces

This article deals with the appearance on Darknet marketplaces of a new synthetic opioid whose research chemical status rivals heroin or fentanyl. Based upon an exploration of specialized harm reduction web forums in early 2020, the article describes how, in order to explore and experiment with this new substance, users have drawn upon both their own personal experience as well as scientific expertise acquired within the online community and by visiting alternative digital networks. The aim of this study is to show that, for those users reporting their experience, harm reduction appears to be both a coercive model as well as an opportunity for them to lay their hands on a market that is usually beyond their grasp.