Nitazenes: A New Dangerous Opioid

What are Nitazenes?

Nitazenes are a group of lab-made opioids that were developed years ago by pharmaceutical companies as an alternative to morphine, but were shelved due to the risks of overdose. There is still no approved medical use for nitazenes today. Some common nitazenes include metonitazene and isotonitazene, which are the two most often detected in overdoses. Nitazenes were first detected in the U.S. drug market in 2019.

Nitazenes come in various forms, including white or brown/yellow powders and are primarily found in illegally purchased pills, heroin and other opioids. They are most frequently injected, but are also ingested in other ways like smoking or snorting.

Why are They So Dangerous?

Nitazenes are very potent, with research suggesting they may be over 40 times more powerful than fentanyl. This high potency makes them highly addictive and increase the risk of fatal overdose, especially for first-time users with low tolerance.

Nitazenes have also been found in counterfeit pills made to look like real prescription medications, further increasing the risk of overdose. While they may provide short-term effects like relaxation and pain relief, long-term use will lead to dependence, breathing problems, brain damage and other serious complications.

Prevention Strategies

Addressing the rise of nitazenes requires a multi-faceted approach focused on prevention. Key strategies include:

• Raising Awareness: Educating the public, healthcare providers and first responders about the emergence of nitazenes and their extreme potency is crucial.

• Expanding Access to Naloxone: Ensuring widespread availability and distribution of the overdose reversal drug naloxone is critical, as it may require higher doses to effectively counteract nitazene overdoses.

• Improving Rapid Detection: The development of rapid, on-site testing capabilities to detect the presence of nitazenes helps to identify these substances in the drug supply.

• Strengthening Surveillance: Enhancing monitoring and data collection on the spread of nitazenes informs public health responses.

• Supporting Treatment and Recovery: Increasing access to evidence-based addiction treatment and recovery services remains an important long-term strategy to address the underlying opioid crisis.