A new and potentially lethal group of synthetic opioids known as nitazenes is emerging in New York, compounding the state’s ongoing struggle with a fentanyl-fueled addiction crisis. Recent narcotics raids, including one in Long Island, have revealed the presence of these powerful substances, marking one of the first instances of nitazenes being detected in the Northeast.
Originally developed as pain relievers in the 1950s, nitazenes have never received approval from the federal Food and Drug Administration. Despite their questionable history, law enforcement officials have reported a concerning rise in various nitazene compounds within the local drug supply. The potency of these drugs is alarming, with some strains being up to 100 times more powerful than fentanyl, as stated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Frank Tarentino, special agent in charge of the New York DEA office, emphasized the increasing danger, noting, “Even though fentanyl remains the primary driver of overdose deaths, we’ve found that nitazenes can be 20 to 50 times more lethal.” The discovery of these substances in areas beyond New York City, including Buffalo and Niagara Falls, suggests that the issue is not confined to urban centers but is a statewide problem.
As the landscape of synthetic drugs continues to evolve, users may unknowingly ingest these potent substances, leading to potentially fatal overdoses. While nitazenes can respond to naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication, the higher potency makes overdoses more challenging to treat…