Deadly Synthetic Opioid Nitazene Linked to Rising Overdose Deaths
A dangerous synthetic opioid, nitazene, is contributing to a sharp increase in overdose fatalities across the United States, with growing concerns over its spread to the United Kingdom. Experts warn that this lab-made drug, far more potent than fentanyl, could exacerbate the already devastating opioid crisis.
What Makes Nitazene So Dangerous?
Nitazenes belong to a class of synthetic opioids developed in the 1950s as potential painkillers but never approved for medical use. These substances are:
- 50 times stronger than heroin
- 10 times more potent than fentanyl
- Frequently mixed with other drugs without users' knowledge
"The emergence of nitazenes represents a significant escalation in the opioid threat," warned Dr. Jane Harper, a toxicology expert at King's College London.
UK Faces Growing Threat
While initially concentrated in the US, nitazenes have now been detected in:
- Post-mortem toxicology reports across England
- Drug seizures by UK law enforcement
- Hospital admissions for overdoses
Public Health England has issued alerts to drug services and emergency departments about the rising presence of these substances in street drugs.
Why This Crisis Is Different
The current wave differs from previous opioid epidemics because:
- These synthetic drugs are cheaper to produce than heroin
- They can be manufactured anywhere with basic lab equipment
- Their extreme potency makes naloxone (the overdose reversal drug) less effective
Authorities on both sides of the Atlantic are scrambling to develop testing protocols and update treatment guidelines to address this evolving threat.
