Last updated : December 16, 2024
Truth be told, “blown out of the water” would be a more accurate phrase to describe this situation. That’s because nitazenes, the new “most toxic opioid” record holder, is reportedly 1,000 times more potent than morphine.
Yes, you read that correctly. According to a study done at the Lehigh Valley Health Network-USF Morsani College of Medicine in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, nitazenes are one thousand times more potent than morphine. Study author, Alexandra Amaducci, an emergency medicine and medical toxicology expert from the college, stated that nitazenes “are much more dangerous, because it takes a smaller amount of these drugs to have the same effect, and patients could overdose more easily.”
It could earn them the title of “fentanyl on steroids” because it logged in at a mere 30 to 50 times more powerful than morphine. Furthermore, the study revealed that when someone overdoses on nitazenes, it’s likely to be more severe, and, therefore, more difficult to treat than a fentanyl overdose.
What are nitazenes?
These drugs are powerful synthetic opioids and their composition is similar to fentanyl. Developed as a pain medication back in the 1950s, nitazenes were never approved for medical use due to the high potential for overdose.
Some types of these drugs include:
- Isotonitazene
- Metonitazene
- Etonitazene
- Protonitazene
Decades passed with no further research being done. However, now that nitazenes are showing up in the illicit drug market both here and in the United Kingdom, that must change.
Made a comeback
Powder, tablet, and liquid forms of these drugs began filtering into the U.S. drug culture back near the beginning of the pandemic. It left the medical community scrambling to discover more about them because so little is known about how nitazenes work in the body. Nor how the body clears the medication once it’s been ingested.
Naloxone, a nasal spray that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, can revive the victim, but it takes larger doses to do its job. Also, due to the incredibly high potency, there is a risk that even when administering large doses of naloxone, it will have no effect.
How is it ingested?
Nitazenes are commonly injected into the bloodstream by users who believe they are shooting up heroin or fentanyl. However, the substance purchased has also been “cut” with some form of nitazene. Users snort or take the drug in pill form as well.
The user is at increased risk of overdosing either way due to the added filler. The nitazene is added to give the product an extra kick and at the same time, increase the amount of product being sold.
Where have nitazene deaths occurred?
Nitazene was blamed for an overdose death in Boulder County, Colorado over the Christmas holiday, It’s the second reported death attributed to the drug within the state this year. The man who died is believed to have purchased quaaludes, a sedative, online. Subsequently, the drugs he received contained nitazene too—unbeknownst to him of course.
These drugs have been responsible for overdose deaths in the following states as well:
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Wisconsin
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has issued warnings that the drug is being developed in powder form outside the United States and being trafficked into the country.
Side effects can vary
The effect that nitazenes have on the user depends on several factors including:
- Size and weight
- Dosage amount
- Strength of the drug—with no manufacturing regulations potency varies from batch to batch
- Whether or not someone has used the drug before
Short-term effects can include:
- Feelings of euphoria
- Drowsiness
- Clumsiness
- Pain relief
- Reduced stress, relaxed
- Itchiness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever and sweating
- Slowed breathing
- Slowed heart rate
Signs of overdose
Seek medical attention immediately if someone is exhibiting signs of a nitazene overdose.
They are:
- Slow or shallow breathing
- Bluish or greyish lips and complexion
- Losing consciousness
- Coma
- No sign of life
Though not guaranteed to work, administer naloxone immediately if available. If there is no response from the victim, repeat the dosage.
Long-term effects
Studies of these drugs have only recently begun. Therefore, there isn’t much data available, but it’s believed the long-term effects would mirror other opioid medications.
Some common long-term effects of opioids include:
- Constipation
- Dependence
- Increased tolerance
- Damage to the heart, lungs, and brain
Withdrawal symptoms may be severe
We commend those who decide to fight an addiction to this toxic opioid group. The brain accepts it as a normal part of the chemical makeup fairly quickly. Therefore, when the drug is absent, the brain starts looking for it and triggers withdrawal symptoms. Researchers haven’t discovered the specifics of those yet, however, suspect they closely resemble those of severe opioid withdrawal.
Symptoms indicating nitazene withdrawal may include:
- Excessive sweating
- Restless legs
- Fever
- Dizziness
- Flu-like symptoms
- Blackouts
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
We won’t back down
Many fear that nitazene overdoses will continue to increase as this new toxic opioid threat emerges throughout our nation. In all honesty, that is likely to be the case.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 111,964 American citizens died of a drug overdose between August 2022 and July 2023. Moreover, the majority of those deaths were attributed to opioid overdose which included fentanyl and, now, nitazenes.
We aren’t giving up this fight until we win. The best course of action is to continue to educate young people about the hazards of drug use and abuse. In today’s world, everyone knows or loves someone who suffers from drug addiction. That alone should be enough of an example to cause one to say, “Not me.” Sadly, though, we tend to repeat the same patterns exhibited by other family members even when the pattern is negative.
Education can break the twisted cycle because it gives people the capability to make informed decisions. They don’t have to repeat the cycles of generations past but can carve a new path for themselves—and all the generations that follow.
