“There’s a lot of media about nitazenes at the moment and how these drugs can cause overdoses. What are they and why are they so dangerous?”
Nitazenes are classified as opioids. Opioids are depressants, i.e., they slow down the central nervous system, with many of the drugs in this group acting as powerful painkillers. Opioids, such as heroin, are derived from a substance produced by the opium poppy called morphine. Other opioids, such as nitazenes, are synthetic (or man-made) and also include prescribed medications like codeine and oxycodone.
Over the past few years, a synthetic opioid called fentanyl has attracted a great deal of attention due to it being linked to a significant number of fatal overdoses across the world. The most well-known of these was the death of the singer Prince in 2016. Fortunately, there has been limited evidence of fentanyl being widely available in Australia, however, there are growing concerns that we may not be so lucky when it comes to nitazenes.
For those experiencing chronic pain, existing pain relievers such as codeine or morphine may not provide adequate relief and, as a result, pharmaceutical companies have strived to produce increasingly more potent synthetic opioids. Nitazenes were first developed and tested in the 1950s but were never approved for medical use due to their high potency. There are many different nitazenes, with their potency varying greatly, e.g., clonitazene (slightly less potent than morphine) to etonitazene (up to 500 times more potent than heroin, and 1000 times more potent than morphine). As a result, a fatal overdose can be caused by taking a tiny amount of the drug.
It is only recently that these substances have started to be found in illicit drugs, typically heroin, in an effort to make it appear ‘stronger’. Unfortunately, they’ve also been found in a range of other drugs such as cocaine, MDMA and ketamine. This means that a wide range of people could be affected by inadvertently or intentionally taking nitazenes. This includes those who use stimulant drugs like cocaine occasionally on a Saturday night, as well as those who regularly inject drugs like heroin.
There are always risks associated with the use of illicit drugs but this group of highly potent synthetic opioids presents a unique threat. It is important for anyone who chooses to use drugs to be aware that nitazenes could be present in the substance they are taking. Being able to identify the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, as well as how to respond appropriately is vital.
First published: August 2024
