Source: The Hill
Officials in Ohio say they’re seeing a rise in the use of nitazenes — a group of synthetic opioids that can be exponentially more potent than fentanyl.
Nitazene compounds were first synthesized in the 1950s for pharmaceutical research, and more recently, began to crop up in the illicit drug market in 2019.
These synthetic opioids are typically combined with other drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, as they’re cheap to manufacture and pack a powerful punch. The drugs have been found to be anywhere from 2 to 40 times stronger than fentanyl, which has fueled an unprecedented number of drug overdose deaths.
Recently, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) warned residents that authorities have reported an increase in the prevalence of the drug over the last year.
“Frankenstein opioids are even more lethal than the drugs already responsible for so many overdose deaths,” Mr. Yost said. “Law enforcement and the public need to pay attention to these emerging hazards.”
Read the full article in The Hill.