Rising Threat: The Deadly Opioid Nitazenes
A little-known synthetic opioid, nitazenes, has become a significant cause of overdose deaths in recent years, with reports highlighting its severe dangers—often more deadly than fentanyl.
Originally created as pain relievers in the 1950s, nitazenes were never approved for public use due to their high risk of overdose. However, since 2019, these drugs have started to appear in the illicit drug markets of Europe and North America, and their presence is growing across the Americas.
According to a recent report by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), the most common nitazene is isotonitazene (ISO), with around twelve other variants also observed. The report indicates that the use of nitazenes has increased in North America, leading to fears about their expanding availability.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies ISO and seven other nitazenes as Schedule 1 drugs, highlighting their illegal status. Experts like Corey Gamberg, a drug counselor, stated that these opioids are being made in unregulated labs, primarily in China and India, making their way into the U.S. through the same channels used for fentanyl. Gamberg emphasized that as authorities target fentanyl, traffickers often shift to cheaper and easier-to-produce substances like nitazenes.
Available in various forms—pills, powders, sprays—nitazenes can be consumed in different ways, such as snorting or injecting. The danger lies in their potency; some types are significantly stronger than fentanyl, leading to a high risk of accidental overdose.
Dr. Jonathan Avery from NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center confirmed that nitazenes could be dozens to hundreds of times more potent than traditional opioids. The potential for addiction and side effects, including nausea, disorientation, and cardiac arrest, is alarming.
What’s particularly dangerous is that many users might not realize they are consuming nitazenes, as these drugs are often blended with heroin or sold as counterfeit pills. Gamberg pointed out the unpredictability of these mixtures, which increases the risk of overdosing.
Testing for nitazenes is limited. While some test strips exist, accurate screening often requires advanced labs that may not be readily available or affordable. Dr. Ryan Marino, a toxicologist, noted that routine drug tests may fail to identify nitazenes, complicating enforcement and prevention efforts.
To combat this growing threat, experts are calling for better drug-testing options and widespread availability of naloxone (Narcan), a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. However, it may take multiple doses to be effective due to the potency of nitazenes.
Increasing public awareness and enhancing drug-checking tools are vital in the fight against the dangers posed by these potent synthetic opioids.
