Opioids
W-18
Street names: W-18, The '10,000× morphine' myth
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Marketed as a 'designer opioid'; early reports claimed 10,000× morphine
⚠Key risks
- THE MISINFORMATION CASE: later peer-reviewed testing found W-18 has WEAK opioid activity — the '10,000×' claim was a citation error that panicked 2015–2016 media
- Still dangerous as unknown-powder contamination
- Lesson: potency claims on grey-market drugs are often marketing
✚Overdose signs
- Unknown pharmacology — treat any unresponsive opioid-like event with naloxone
📋Quick facts
Also known asW-18, The '10,000× morphine' myth
CategoryOpioids
Schedule / classAnalogue prosecutions (US); Schedule I Canada
AppearanceWhite powder — 1980s compound sold as 'research chemical' mid-2010s
Street priceN/A — historic scare compound
Legal statusAnalogue Act US; Schedule I Canada
Last updated2026-09-18
Sources: PubMed, NPS-AD, EMCDDA
Category comparison — Opioids
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| W-18 | Analogue prosecutions | THE MISINFORMATION CASE: later peer-reviewed testing found W-18 has WEAK opioid activity — the '10,000×' claim was a citation error that panicked 2015–2016 media; Still dangerous as unknown-powder contamination | N/A — historic scare compound |
| Fentanyl | Schedule II | Respiratory depression; Addiction in days | ~$20–$40 per counterfeit pill |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does W-18 look like?
White powder — 1980s compound sold as 'research chemical' mid-2010s
What are the signs of a W-18 overdose?
Unknown pharmacology — treat any unresponsive opioid-like event with naloxone Call emergency services immediately and give naloxone if available — it reverses opioid overdoses.
How addictive is it?
THE MISINFORMATION CASE: later peer-reviewed testing found W-18 has WEAK opioid activity — the '10,000×' claim was a citation error that panicked 2015–2016 media Dependence can develop with regular use.