Lately, there has been a rising group of synthetic opioids that could potentially be more lethal than fentanyl.
The New Strain
A group of synthetic opioids have been gaining popularity among illegal drugs recently. According to a new study, these opioids may be more potent than fentanyl, a 1,000 times more fatal than morphine, and possibly require more doses of naloxone in order to reverse an overdose. This opioid is nitazene, which is a synthetic opioid just like fentanyl, except the two are not structurally related.
An estimation of more than 150 people die every day overdosing on synthetic opioids. Fentanyl is responsible for nearly two-thirds of overdose deaths in U.S. . Fentanyl is more potent than heroin and morphine. Imagine the danger nitazenes pose to users.
Nitazenes were first developed in the 1950s as a pain killer but never put on the market due to their potency. Now gaining the name “Frankenstein,” nitazene is now in other illegal substances. There are four variants of this opioid, such as brorphine, isotonitazene, metonitazene, and etonitazene. Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai state that clinicians need to be aware of this opioid.
The Affect
According to studies, nitazene patients needed two or more doses of naloxone to reverse the overdose. In comparison, fentanyl patients only need one dose to reverse the overdose. A study was conducted between 2020-2022. Data from the study shows that out of 537 possible overdose patients, 11 of them tested positive for fentanyl and nine positive for nitazene. It is also shown that 66.6% of nitazene patients needed multiple doses rather only 36.4% of patients needed multiple doses. It doesn’t stop there.
Not only was there a spike in the amount of naloxone doses but also other severe methods to reverse overdose. For example, four of 11 fentanyl patients received CPR but only two patients who overdosed on metonitazene went into intubation — the insertion of a tube into a patient’s throat through the mouth or nose. Fifty percent of patients received intubation versus only 27.3% of fentanyl patients. Additionally, nitazene, specifically metonitazene, patients have a higher risk of cardiac arrest and death. Even one patient died despite receiving six milligrams in three different doses.
Be on The Lookout
The upsurge with these “Frankenstein” opioids is very concerning. According to statistics, the main regions where there is an uprise are the states Tennessee and Ohio. “Frankenstein opioids are even more lethal than the drugs already responsible for so many overdose deaths…..Law enforcement and the public need to pay attention to these emerging hazards,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost stated.
Even though it is popular in two states, it is still under the radar. “This new study certainly adds to the body of concerning evidence that novel synthetic opioids, such as nitazenes, are really exacerbating the overdose crisis. It’s an understudied class of drugs, and one of the biggest problems we have is that we don’t actually systematically track drugs like nitazenes,” says Joe Friedman, a researcher at the University of California.
This poses a huge threat to the well-being of citizens. If nobody is educated on these new synthetic opioids, how can we stop the spread of dangerous drugs? People who overdosed on nitazene, thought that it was heroin and fentanyl they were using, according to studies.
Sheila Vakharia, deputy director of the Department of Research and Academic Engagement at the nonprofit Drug Policy Alliance provides light on the opioid situation. “Since they are buying drugs from the underground market, they buy drugs assuming they are what the dealer tells them they are,” says Vakharia. She states that dealers are mixing nitazenes with other opioids, such as fentanyl, to evade the harsh fentanyl penalties that are at state and federal level.
So please be careful and aware of these potent opioids.
Written by Saniya Fields
Sources
CNN: Emerging group of synthetic opioids may be more potent than fentanyl, study warns by Jacqueline Howard
The Center Square: Researchers warn about synthetic opioids more powerful than fentanyl by Brett Rowland
New York Post: Surging opioid nitazene could be deadlier than fentanyl, experts warn by Jane Herz
Top and featured image Courtesy of Charles Williams’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset image Courtesy of Jodimarr’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
