What Are Blues (M30s)? Are They Dangerous?
Key Takeaways
- Blues (M30s) are dangerous, often fentanyl-laced opioids - Jump to Section
- Blues contain oxycodone and may be laced with fentanyl - Jump to Section
- Blues can cause dangerous side effects including overdose - Jump to Section
- To avoid fentanyl-laced drugs, don't use street drugs - Jump to Section
- Addiction to blues can be treated with inpatient or outpatient programs - Jump to Section
What are Blues (M30s)? Are They Dangerous?
M30s or “blues” are opiate-based prescription opioids. They contain 30 mg of oxycodone. The pills are stamped with an “M” logo on one end and the number 30 imprinted on the other.
Counterfeit versions of oyxcodone medication contain illegally manufactured fentanyl.** Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid prescribed for severe pain. This is one of the most powerful prescription painkillers on the market.
The pills are sold by many drug dealers as real Oxy pills to unsuspecting buyers, fueling the nation’s opioid crisis.
However, it’s a highly addictive drug and very dangerous when misused. Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl vary in risk but can be deadly if they contain a dosage high enough to be fatal.
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What are the Ingredients in Blues?
Blues are one of the most commonly abused painkillers. Due to the high illegal demand for the drug, they’re sometimes counterfeited or laced with fentanyl. Fentanyl is stronger and deadlier than oxycodone.
Each 30 mg tablet contains 27 mg of oxycodone. They also contain:
- Polysorbate 80
- Red iron oxide
- Black iron oxide
- Yellow iron oxide
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Side Effects of Blues
Blues trigger a variety of common and dangerous side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and seizures.
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Constipation
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Dry Mouth
- Fever
- Abnormal Dreams
- Seizures
- Insomnia
- Death
There is also a high risk of opioid overdose for anyone using blues or M30s. Signs of a fentanyl overdose include:
- Confusion
- Slurred speech
- Pale, clammy skin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blue lips/fingernails
- Slow breathing or breathing stoppage
- Slowed heart rate
- Loss of consciousness
The risk of overdose is higher when this drug is mixed with heroin, cocaine, or other benzodiazepines.
Overdose is a medical emergency. If you believe you or someone you know has overdosed on blues, seek immediate medical attention or call 911.
Signs of Addiction to Blues
Blues are extremely addictive, especially when the drug is laced with fentanyl.
Sides of addiction include:
- Mood swings
- Decrease in motivation
- Loss of interest in once-loved activities
- Avoiding family and friends
- Physical tolerance (needing a larger dose to achieve the same effect)
- Withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug
How to Avoid Counterfeit Drugs
All misused drugs pose a risk to users. This is especially true with illicit or street drugs.
One of the greatest risks associated with illicit or recreational drugs is not knowing what you’re getting. Drug traffickers or anyone involved in the illegal drug market sometimes lace unknown substances into illicit drugs. Ideally, you’ll avoid all illegal drugs.
Their taste and smell are also the same. One way to know if they contain unknown substances is to test them. You can do this with rapid testing strips that detect fentanyl.
However, the only way to be certain you aren’t taking fentanyl-laced drugs is to avoid street drugs completely. Oxycodone should only be used when prescribed by a healthcare provider.2
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Treatment Options for Addiction
Several treatment options for addiction are available for addiction to Blues. A comprehensive approach is usually the best option for most people with drug use problems.
Treatment options include:
Inpatient Treatment
This is an intensive treatment option that provides full-time supervision in a sober living environment. Most inpatient programs last for at least 30 days or longer.
Inpatient treatment usually includes a variety of treatment approaches, including:
- Medically supervised detox
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Group counseling
- Individual counseling and psychotherapy
- Peer support groups
Outpatient Treatment
This type of treatment combines access to some of the tools used during inpatient treatment, but it doesn’t remove someone from their regular life.
People with opioid addiction in outpatient programs don’t stay overnight at the treatment facility.
- Outpatient programs typically include:
- Individual counseling
- Group therapy
- Access to medication
- 12-Step Programs
12-step programs, including Narcotics Anonymous, offer access to peer support. These programs use the traditional 12-step approach introduced by Alcoholics Anonymous. They can be used alone or paired with other treatment approaches.
Summary
Blues, also known as M30s or a lookalike of oxycodone, are a type of commonly abused prescription painkiller. In addition to different brands, there are also counterfeit street versions. Many of these illicit versions are laced with fentanyl.
Blues are highly addictive and frequently abused. Drug treatment programs are available for people addicted to blues.
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- Food and Drug Administration. “Oxycontin Package Insert.” fda.gov, 2019.
- Moyle, Leah, et al. “Drugsforsale: An Exploration of the Use of Social Media and Encrypted Messaging Apps to Supply and Access Drugs.” International Journal of Drug Policy, 2019.
- Mayo Clinic. “How Opioid Addiction Occurs.” mayoclinic.org, 2018.
- Huecker, Martin R, et al. “Opioid Addiction.” nih.gov, 2019.
- Public Health Nigeria. “How to Spot an M 30 Blue Oxycodone Fake Pill.” publichealth.com.ng, 2022.
- Drug Enforcement Administration. “Dangerous Fentanyl Masked as Counterfeit Oxycodone, 20,000 Pills Seized in the Bronx and Manhattan.” dea.gov, 2019.
