Examining The Risk Of Nitazenes, the Latest Class Of Alarmingly Strong Synthetic Opioids
January 13, 2025
Nitazenes, a category of powerful synthetic opioids, have surfaced as a major concern due to their high potency and association with overdose fatalities. Despite the lack of comprehensive statistics, alarming reports are highlighting the devastating and deadly impact. Learn more about the threats, effects, key facts, and treatment options.
What Are Nitazenes?
Nitazenes are powerful synthetic opioids that act on the brain’s opioid receptors. They were initially formulated about 60 years ago as a substitute to morphine but were not released due to their heightened threat of overdose.
Nitazenes are significantly more potent than conventional opioids like morphine or other deadly synthetics like fentanyl. They are connected to many overdose fatalities across the world as they have started to appear in illegal drug markets.
How Do Nitazenes Appear?
Nitazenes are available in various forms. You may discover them as the following:
- White powder, crystal-like solid, or yellow/brown powder.
- Counterfeit pills (e.g., fake oxycodone) are often blended with heroin, synthetic cannabinoids, and ketamine.
Some of the most recent xylazine overdoses implicate nitazenes. A A concerning aspect is that xylazine, an animal sedative commonly used as prep for surgery, would not necessarily be found on clinical toxicology screens conducted in ERs.
be detected on clinical toxicology screens conducted in ERs.
Global Public Health Concerns Regarding Nitazenes
Because of its recent emergence and the lack of official research about the effects of nitazenes, much of the information about these powerful synthetics comes from firsthand user reports. But it’s becoming more apparent that nitazenes are making the overdose epidemic worse, adding to elevating overdose rates through fake pills and illicit drugs. Due to unregulated production, there is an increased threat of varying, dangerous levels of potency and contamination.
Important Facts About Nitazenes
Compounding the opioid epidemic, nitazenes are extraordinarily powerful and come with a high threat of overdose. Here are some additional facts about these dangerous opioids:
- Potency: Nitazenes are frequently much more powerful than fentanyl. Certain derivatives, like isotonitazene, can be 20 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
- Illicit Use: Nitazenes are becoming more widespread in the illicit drug market, commonly as substitutes or additives to opioids like fentanyl or heroin. Users could unknowingly ingest nitazenes, increasing the threat of overdose.
- Effects: Like other opioids, users may experience pain relief, euphoria, and sedation. Severe respiratory depression can occur, which is commonly deadly in high doses or when combined with depressants like benzodiazepines or alcohol.
- Detection Issues: Regular toxicology screenings may fail to find nitazenes, necessitating different testing to determine nitazene-impacted overdoses.
- Threat of Overdose: Even seemingly insignificant amounts can lead to fatal overdoses. Naloxone (Narcan) could reverse effects, but multiple or bigger doses are often needed.
- Variants: Isotonitazene is among the most frequently found. Other prevalent derivatives include metonitazene, protonitazene, and etonitazene, which produce life-threatening effects in limited amounts.
Treatment for Nitazene Addiction
Treatment strategies for nitazene addiction mirror those used for other opioids. Here are the services you will find at credentialed facilities:
- Medically supervised detox: Promotes safety during the withdrawal stage.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT): Utilizes medications like methadone or buprenorphine to mitigate withdrawal symptoms and urges.
- Therapy and counseling: Behavioral therapy to examine causes behind the addiction and develop positive coping mechanisms.
- Aftercare planning: Thoughtfully designed recovery plans encourage lasting sobriety.
How Sunrise Detox Can Help
Sunrise Detox Center offers complete care for people dealing with nitazene addiction.
What We Offer
- Safe, medically directed detox: 24/7 medical guidance to promote safety and comfort throughout detox
- Immediate transport: Transportation within minutes of your call
- Custom detox plans: Customized care for every client that makes sense for the complexities of nitazene use
- Complete care coordination: Support throughout the recovery process, ensuring an effortless transition from detox to the next phase of care
Get Help For Nitazene Addiction Today
Everybody deserves specialized detox care in Fort Lauderdale. Reach out to Sunrise Detox Fort Lauderdale at (954) 869-9759 to get the help you need. With the emergence of potent synthetic opioids like nitazenes, our team is dedicated to supplying compassionate and immediate support day and night, 365 days a year.
Author
Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, Stephen Cooke brings over a decade of experience in international and American healthcare communications to Praesum. A prolific writer and published author, Stephen has dedicated his career to promoting health and recovery across various organizations.
