{"id":20436,"date":"2026-02-21T18:59:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T17:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/?p=20436"},"modified":"2026-02-22T08:54:58","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T07:54:58","slug":"btmps-in-fentanyl-what-parents-need-to-know-about-this-emerging-chemical","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/2026\/02\/btmps-in-fentanyl-what-parents-need-to-know-about-this-emerging-chemical\/","title":{"rendered":"BTMPS in Fentanyl: What Parents Need to Know About This Emerging Chemical"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
by Maurizio Guerrero, Educational Content Editor; Pat Aussem, L.P.C., M.A.C., Vice President, Consumer Clinical Content Development<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Published\u00a0November 2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\"sponsor\"<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n

This article was developed in partnership with the Opioid Response Network (ORN). ORN provides education and training, known as technical assistance, via local, experienced consultants in prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction. Anyone can submit a request for no-cost technical assistance at OpioidResponseNetwork.org.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Opioids have been involved in most overdoses in the U.S. over the past several years. These include heroin, morphine, prescription opioids and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. While you may wish that your loved one not use opioids at all, if they do, here are some harm reduction strategies for opioid use that you can share with them to reduce their risk of illness and death.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Naloxone: Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/div>\n

Learn more about the opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone (also known by the brand name Narcan).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Xylazine<\/span><\/div>\n

Overdoses linked to xylazine are spreading. Read on to learn how to protect yourself and your loved one.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

You may have heard about dangerous substances mixed with fentanyl, like xylazine and medetomidine. Now there\u2019s a new worry: BTMPS. This industrial chemical is normally used to make plastic products, but it\u2019s been showing up in fentanyl across many cities since late 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like other additives, BTMPS makes fentanyl even more dangerous and harder to treat during overdoses. It has also been found in some meth and cocaine samples, but this is rare. Unlike other additives, BTMPS doesn\u2019t make people high or sleepy on its own.<\/span><\/p>\n

This article explains what we know about BTMPS and how it affects people who use drugs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

What is BTMPS?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0BTMPS is a white powder that\u2019s sold under the brand name Tinuvin\u00ae 770. Companies use it to protect plastic from sun damage. They add BTMPS to plastics and other materials to stop them from breaking down when exposed to heat and sunlight.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

BTMPS is not approved for use in people or animals. It\u2019s also not regulated in the U.S. Unlike other substances added to illegal drugs (like xylazine and medetomidine), BTMPS doesn\u2019t get people high.<sup>[1]<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

This chemical has mostly been found in fentanyl. Sometimes it shows up in stimulants like meth and cocaine too.<sup>[2]<\/sup><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Where Has BTMPS Been Found?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0BTMPS first appeared in Philadelphia fentanyl samples in June 2024. By November, researchers found it in more than half of the samples they tested there. Around the same time, it started showing up in Los Angeles fentanyl samples.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

By the end of 2024, BTMPS was in 6 out of every 10 fentanyl samples tested in these cities.<\/span>
\nResearchers also tested drug equipment from Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, Washington, Puerto Rico, and parts of California. They found BTMPS in 3 out of every 10 fentanyl samples from these places.[3]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By late 2024, BTMPS had been detected in fentanyl samples in almost every state.[4]<\/sup><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Why is BTMPS Mixed with Fentanyl?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Since BTMPS doesn\u2019t make people high, experts wonder why it\u2019s being added to fentanyl and other drugs.<\/span>
\nOne reason might be that BTMPS, like xylazine and medetomidine, lowers blood pressure. This can create a calming effect that adds to fentanyl\u2019s effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other experts think it might be used as a cheap filler. Drug makers could use BTMPS to stretch their fentanyl supply, making more product while spending less money. This dilution might also make fentanyl less potent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another theory is that manufacturers add BTMPS to keep fentanyl stable longer, using its sun-protection properties to make the drug last longer.[5]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Most experts agree that BTMPS is probably added during production, not later. This is because it\u2019s found all across the country, not just in specific regions like xylazine.[6]<\/sup><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

What Are the Effects of BTMPS?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0We don\u2019t know much about how BTMPS affects humans because there\u2019s very little research. However, studies on rats showed that BTMPS reduced nicotine use and lessened withdrawal symptoms from morphine and cocaine.[7]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The rat studies also showed serious health problems from BTMPS exposure, including:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Heart defects<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Severe eye damage<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Death<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The safety information for BTMPS warns that it can cause:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Serious eye damage<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Skin irritation<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Harm to unborn babies<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      People who have used drugs containing BTMPS report that these substances don\u2019t work as well as drugs without BTMPS.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Users have reported these symptoms after taking substances with BTMPS:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Blurry vision<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Burning eyes<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Ringing in the ears<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Nausea<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Coughing<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Burning feeling when injected<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Chemical smell (like plastic or bug spray)[8]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
        \n

        What Are the Risks?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

        \u00a0Harm reduction experts worry that people who regularly use fentanyl with high amounts of BTMPS might develop a lower tolerance to regular fentanyl. This could increase their risk of overdose if they later use fentanyl without BTMPS.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n

        Animal studies suggest BTMPS might cause:<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        • \n
            \n
          • Heart problems like low blood pressure and weak heart contractions<\/span><\/li>\n
          • Brain and nerve problems like muscle weakness and droopy eyelids<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            [9]<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

            BTMPS blocks calcium channels in the body, which makes overdoses harder to reverse. Doctors need to give patients medicine to raise their blood pressure and heart rate, but BTMPS makes this difficult. Treatment might be even less effective for patients who already take calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease.[10]<\/sup><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

            \n

            How to Protect Your Loved One from BTMPS<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

            \u00a0Even though BTMPS doesn\u2019t directly stop breathing like fentanyl does, it\u2019s usually found with fentanyl. This means naloxone (Narcan) should still be given right away during suspected overdoses.<\/span><\/p>\n

            \n

            Ask your loved one to carry naloxone and make sure they know how to use it; you can learn more about this here.<\/span><\/p>\n

            It is also very important that they avoid using substances alone and always have someone watching out for them. If that is not possible, encourage them to consider services like Never Use Alone, a nationwide 24\/7\/365 toll-free service that connects people who use substances with a trained operator who will supervise that the person uses safely.<\/span><\/p>\n

            Doctors should provide standard overdose treatment plus extra care for problems that BTMPS might cause.<\/span>
            \nThere are no test strips for BTMPS like there are for fentanyl and xylazine. Healthcare providers and medical examiners don\u2019t routinely test for BTMPS either. This means they wouldn\u2019t know if someone had taken BTMPS unless they specifically looked for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

            BTMPS can be identified with special machines called portable spectrometers that some community drug testing programs use. If drug checking services are available in your area, harm reduction professionals suggest having substances tested regularly. So, ask your loved one to use these services when they are accessible.<\/span><\/p>\n

            Source: https:\/\/drugfree.org\/article\/btmps-in-fentanyl-what-parents-need-to-know-about-this-emerging-chemical\/<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            by Maurizio Guerrero, Educational Content Editor; Pat Aussem, L.P.C., M.A.C., Vice President, Consumer Clinical Content Development Published\u00a0November 2025 This article was developed in partnership with the Opioid Response Network (ORN). ORN provides education and training, known as technical assistance, via local, experienced consultants in prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction. Anyone can submit a request […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[122,142,46,40,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fentanyl","category-latest-news","category-parents","category-prevention-research","category-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20436","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20436"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20438,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20436\/revisions\/20438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}