- A potent synthetic opioid class called nitazenes has been discovered after people overdosed on them.
- The nitazene class of medication was created over 60 years ago as a potential pain-relief medication, according to the WHO.
- Medical experts say this opioid may be up to 20 times more powerful than fentanyl.
Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid epidemic persists and seems to be worsening.
In areas throughout the United States, a highly potent new synthetic opioid is starting to show up on the streets and is having devastating effects on its users. A class of opioids called ‘nitazenes’ has recently been found in syringes examined by scientists throughout the country.
Forensic experts have found that the syringes used in some overdoses contain a potent synthetic opioid class — nitazenes — which is up to 20 times more powerful than fentanyl — a drug that is already 50 times more powerful than heroin and 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine.