KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The wastewater systems at four Kansas City-area schools have tested positive for a highly potent class of synthetic opioid described as being five to 10 times stronger than fentanyl, the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) confirmed with FOX4 Tuesday.
Last week, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) issued a public health advisory, informing Missourians of the growing presence of nitazenes — an illicit opioid with a reputation for causing overdoses and deaths in unsuspecting victims.
According to the DHSS and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, nitazenes — also referred to as isotonitazene or “ISO”— were first identified around 2019 and are commonly found in and marketed as other drugs, such as counterfeit pills, illicit powders, unregulated cannabis products and vape liquid…